The new, 25-story apartment and retail tower will bring continuity and activity to a growing neighborhood. Containing 380 one- and two-bedroom apartment units, the tower will embrace the rectilinear block with four street frontages and a major alley. While occupying as much of the city edge conditions as possible, the development activates the unused alley into pedestrian-friendly retail space. Back-of-house and utility areas are limited along this alley frontage.
Although this positioning takes advantage of the site, it also led to a design challenge. The majority of the street front on the Church Street viaduct is elevated by 30 feet from the rest of the property. Connectivity was resolved with the creation of a monumental stair that leads pedestrians from the Church Street level down to the upgraded alley. The integration of the alley not only creates pedestrian engagement, but it also establishes a uniform context between the street fronts and base of the tower.
Emerging out of the base with strong verticality, the tower’s modernist-styled design gives hierarchy to the exposed structural concrete columns that extend beyond the roof line. A minimalist, industrial palette allows the domination of glass, accented with metal and exposed concrete, to reflect the building’s surroundings. Twenty-one stories rise above Church Street, and the remaining four stories are subgrade. Amenities include a dog park, amenities deck, fitness center, sports lounge, library, meeting rooms and a swimming pool. Approximately 150 public parking spaces will be available to serve retail patrons and the surrounding community.
Photos © Chad Mellon
