Making a racket
FERNANDO DE NUÑEZ Y LUGONES • VERTICAL Developments
WORK • Thursday Routine
FERNANDO DE NUÑEZ Y LUGONES • CEO & founder • VERTICAL Developments
Neighborhood you work in: Coral Gables
Neighborhood you live in: Key Biscayne
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
My mornings typically begin with a coffee and a quick catch-up with my daughter, who works alongside me at the company. It’s a part of the day I always look forward to. From there, the schedule quickly fills with back-to-back meetings covering every aspect of the business: construction, finance, marketing, and discussions with our partners. Right now, many of those conversations revolve around ELLE Residences Miami, our development in Edgewater.
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time attending events for ELLE and connecting with the broker community. We have a full calendar of upcoming broker events, networking opportunities, and programming, so much of my schedule is centered around building relationships, sharing the story behind our projects, and staying engaged with the people helping to bring them to market.
Any bar or restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Most weekdays, you’ll find me having lunch with my partners at our restaurant Francesco on Miracle Mile. Given that it’s just a four-minute walk from our office, it has become an office-away-from-the-office.
How about a little leisure or culture?
Weekends are all about family. We typically gather for a long family lunch and then unwind by watching a new series together. Recently, I enjoyed The Americans and Berlin. I also try to spend some time on the tennis court, although a good portion of that effort is usually dedicated to convincing my son to play a match with me. The success rate varies depending on the weekend.
Any weekend getaways?
Once a year, while my family is away, I treat myself to a quiet weekend escape in Palm Beach. It’s a chance to recharge, slow down, and enjoy a little time to myself. My ideal day starts with breakfast at Sant Ambroeus, followed by a leisurely stroll down Worth Avenue. I usually spend the afternoon browsing the local art galleries and discovering new artists and pieces. It’s a simple tradition, but one I look forward to every year as an opportunity to reset and return refreshed.
What was your last great vacation?
My most recent great vacation was a family trip to Switzerland. After spending a few days in Zurich, which I hadn’t visited in nearly two decades, we headed to Zermatt for skiing. Between chasing my kids down the mountain and trying to convince myself I still had the same skills I did years ago, I took a few falls along the way. Thankfully, the daily après-ski at CERVO Mountain Resort made for an excellent recovery. I came back with great memories, stronger family bonds, and just enough soreness to know it was a successful ski trip.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
My new tennis racket. It’s one of those purchases that immediately makes you want to get out on the court more often. Whether it’s actually improved my game is still up for debate, but it’s certainly made me more enthusiastic about playing.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I’m not much of a shopper, so when I travel to Europe each summer, I take the opportunity to do most of my clothing shopping for the year. My usual stop is Hackett London, where I like to browse the latest collection and pick up a few timeless pieces. It’s become a bit of an annual tradition, and, thankfully, it means I can avoid shopping for the other 364 days of the year.