The new, 25-story apartment and retail tower brings continuity and activity to a growing neighborhood. Containing 380 one- and two-bedroom apartment units, the tower embraces 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 30 feet above 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 are available to serve retail patrons and the surrounding community.
Photos © Chad Mellon
