A New Home in the Yachting Capital of the World

Denison Yachting opens a new global headquarters in Fort Lauderdale.

This article was written by Sarah Nadler. Photography courtesy of Denison Yachting.

Denison Yachting has started the new year with a clean slate in its new headquarters in the center of Fort Lauderdale.

While the company already had a large presence in the “Yachting Capital of the World” an office at The Quay on 17th Street, plus headquarters in Dania Beach just a few minutes’ drive away, and a rich family history in the city the innovative new office located at the well-known former Ardell building has officially put the brokerage firm on the map, in more ways than one.

The central headquarters officially opened its doors in December 2023, with the Denison team all getting together to christen the new space at its annual Christmas party. The office became fully operational at the start of 2024. It is now the new home to over 65 Denison employees, as it has consolidated three previous Denison offices in the area. Ideally situated on Southeast 17th Street a popular thoroughfare known to South Florida locals and visitors alike the Ardell building was one of the first standalone offices on the strip, which adds to its appeal as a premier location for a yachting business. 17th Street has always been synonymous with the boating and marine industries, especially with its proximity to multiple points of entry to the water including Port Everglades and Superyacht Village. Here, the Denison name remains an integral part of the community, with humble beginnings in a much smaller location just nearby.

When Founder & President Bob Denison established the company in 2002, he naturally set up shop in Fort Lauderdale. As he was born and raised in the city and with an avid background in boating and yachting his grandparents founded Broward Marine, with its original location (now a historic site) in Fort Lauderdale just a few miles away the writing was on the wall that there, too, the business should be based. With a great network in the local community, Bob looked to his high-school friend Bryce Harlow to help furnish his then barely 500-square-foot office (which was actually a house) through Bryce’s up-and-coming office design company at the time.

Things have come a long way since then. These days, Denison Yachting has grown tremendously, with over 100 yacht brokers and more than 20 waterfront locations the biggest and most impressive being this newest 12,000-square-foot addition. All has come full circle, as his life-long friend Bryce was involved in the buildout of this office, too. His commercial interior development company, Align1 Solutions (also based locally), was responsible for the design concept of the facility, including the furnishings, glass walls, floor plan, and reception layout. Chief Operating Officer Nikole Hall said, “We aligned the brand and culture of Denison with the functionality and aesthetic of the space.” The interior is modern and sleek, well-planned to maximize the space for the comfort and productivity of brokers and employees alike.

Also a partner in the creation of the new headquarters was developer John J. Doyle, another long-time Fort Lauderdale-based business owner. His development corporation reconstructed the iconic Ardell building into the masterpiece it is today, leading the effort to design the building shell and interiors in response to Denison’s needs. Doyle led the charge to permit and complete the reconstruction scopes and deliver the building and site into a beautiful new addition to 17th Street Causeway. He shared his pride in the project: “All of the 17th Street neighbors are very excited to have Denison Yachting aboard! The city is thrilled that the building has been entirely revitalized, and we are proud of having played a role in the transformation.”

With even higher visibility in the industry, the state-of-the-art office will also significantly contribute to the city of Fort Lauderdale’s economic advancement over the next decade with its ten-year lease, showing the company’s commitment to a long-term presence within the city and ensuring a consistent and stable source of tax revenue. Denison is proud to be a part of the Fort Lauderdale community and foster growth within it.

“We recognized that Denison’s expansion into Europe, plus the growth of our yacht management, charter, and sales divisions, would need to be supported by a new headquarters,” Denison Chief Operating Officer Ben Farnborough remarked. “Bringing our teams under one roof and reimagining a building that has been a landmark of the yachting business on 17th Street for so many years is very exciting for our brand.”

Denison has always been honored to be an integral part of the local community. With deep roots in Fort Lauderdale dating back to 1948, fond memories of the founding of the brokerage firm, years of successful Fort Lauderdale boat shows, and so many more meaningful ties to the city, Denison is looking forward to an even greater impact on its home from a special spot at the heart of the Yachting Capital of the World.

Request a Copy