The Fontainebleau hotel's second act

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The Fontainebleau hotel was once the Miami Beach playground of the Rat Pack and Elvis Presley (even James Bond). Now, the hotel has been updated in a way guaranteed to turn a new generation of heads.

A sleek, curvy layer cake of a place blending into an Atlantic beach, the Fontainebleau Hotel was once the Miami Beach playground of the Rat Pack and Elvis Presley (even James Bond). Now, the hotel has been updated in a way guaranteed to turn a new generation of heads.

The "stairway to nowhere," designed by the building's original architect, Morris Lapidus, has been refurbished. The stairway used to lead to a barely needed coat check room, and gave guests an excuse to descend into the lobby in grand style. The coat check is gone, but the stairway remains.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei designed these chandeliers for the hotel's spacious hallways. The artist was a consultant for the Beijing Olympics' main stadium, the "Bird's Nest."

A lighting fixture doubles as an art installation in the restaurant Vida. The hotel's makeover includes the addition of three new upscale signature-chefs restaurants.

The hotel's original design was by Morris Lapidus, and featured an affinity for circles, such as this "cheese wall." The new design keeps the circle motif alive.

Each room comes equipped with flat-screen TVs and an iMac. The iMac is the centerpiece of the "paperless" hotel, meaning that all guest correspondence will be electronic.

New owner Jeffrey Soffer assembled a team that bought the Fontainebleau Hotel for $500 million and shelled out another $500 million in upgrades.

The hotel's 22-acre grounds were completely redrawn to include a freeform main pool and a separate "European" bath, where topless sunbathing will be allowed.

New owner Jeffrey Soffer and executive chairman Don Soffer are flanked by models during the hotel's official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 14. The hotel's expensive new look is intended to recreate its sexy, stylish past from the 1950s and '60s.

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A sleek, curvy layer cake of a place blending into an Atlantic beach, the Fontainebleau Hotel was once the Miami Beach playground of the Rat Pack and Elvis Presley (even James Bond). Now, the hotel has been updated in a way guaranteed to turn a new generation of heads.

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