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Page 24 — Multifamily Properties Quarterly — May 2017
Since 1996, LAI Design Group has been involved in a
variety of high density multifamily and attached housing
projects ranging from 10 to 300 units per acre. These
solutions range from high end luxury urban living
environments to affordable housing strategies.
For more information on
Real Estate Development Solutions contact us
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
• Town homes & Condominiums
• Urban / Podium
• Midrise / Highrise
• Suburban
• Affordable / Tax Credit
• Modular
• Active Adult
• Visual Media & Marketing
• Residential Product Development
• Community Design
MULTIFAMILY SERVICES
Design
W ith metro Denver’s popu-
lation growth continuing
to outpace the national
average, multifamily
projects are springing up
across the region to meet increased
demand for housing. There are cur-
rently 21,000 units under construc-
tion metrowide, and another 24,000
units planned or proposed for con-
struction.
With rapid building comes the
risk of losing some of the charac-
ter that makes each neighborhood
special by settling on nondescript
design templates for easy approval.
Denver neighborhoods offer such
unique and varying experiences;
these new multifamily projects
have the opportunity to add rich-
ness, not detract from it.
Denver is not alone in this strug-
gle. The city of Seattle faced simi-
lar challenges and opted to create
neighborhood conservation districts
to help address the issue. While
there may not be a formal move-
ment in Denver, it’s still a topic of
concern.
We believe that the key to
addressing this type of issue – and
the key to any successful project,
really – is to ensure that design
reflects its context.
Take a look at the hospitality sec-
tor in Denver. The feel of The Craw-
ford Hotel is entirely different than
that of Halcyon in Cherry Creek or
The Maven, our newly completed
project in Dairy Block. Despite being
within a few miles of one another,
our designs were entirely based on
the history and
character of their
specific neighbor-
hoods.
Taking cues from
hospitality design,
we can help com-
bat cookie-cutter
multifamily proj-
ects, and preserve
– even enhance –
the character that
makes each Den-
ver neighborhood
special.
• Contextual
design . Exceptional hotels offer
intentional experiences that can
only be found where they are. The
same is true of multifamily projects.
Designing for a multifamily proj-
ect requires a cultural immersion
into the character of an area. By
accounting for both the needs of a
client and respecting the history of
the community, the final design will
produce something that seamlessly
blends into the neighborhood’s fab-
ric, reflecting the materials, struc-
tures, scale and details like window
patterns of the area.
Take Denver’s Lower Highland
neighborhood as an example. With
10 multifamily projects either under
construction or planned in the area,
it’s important to pay attention to
what makes this place a local favor-
ite – mainly, easy access to restau-
rants, bars and retail.
The 106-unit Alexan LoHi, set
to open later this year, takes into
account its historical urban setting.
At just five stories, the project fea-
tures a brick façade and first-floor
restaurant and retail space that will
add to the vitality of the neighbor-
hood. The design also incorporates
murals and artwork by local artists
to make residents feel at home.
Taking cues from a different Den-
ver neighborhood, Laurel Cherry
Creek offers a taste of upscale
hospitality fitting of the area. This
77-condominium project, set to
open in 2018, will offer residents a
porte-cochere, large balconies with
sliding glass doors that blur the line
between interior and exterior, and a
resortlike rooftop deck with unob-
structed views of the mountains
and downtown.
• Community connection. One of
the most powerful elements of
hotels is their ability to create a
connection with the surrounding
community. As 24-hour, 365-day
spaces, detailed attention is given
to how they play a role in a neigh-
borhood’s daily life. Multifamily
projects aren’t all that different.
While there may not be unlimited
access, the incorporation of mixed-
use spaces including restaurants
and retail adds to a community’s
connection to multifamily projects.
As one of Denver’s up-and-coming
areas, Sloan’s Lake traditionally has
been a residential neighborhood
with a concentrated focus on the
lake as a premier activity for those
seeking an active lifestyle. While
there are only a few multifamily
development projects planned for
this area, the redevelopment of
the St. Anthony Hospital campus
provides an opportunity to comple-
ment the area’s active lifestyle with
new offerings.
At Regatta Sloan’s Lake, a 369-
unit apartment community, which
opened in the fall, the first floor of
the west building offers restaurant
spaces designed to attract residents
and neighbors alike after a day on
the lake or running around town.
• Common spaces. In the same way
a hotel can create a great experi-
ence by facilitating connections to
the surrounding community, it also
can create memorable experiences
with the strategic use of common
areas for guests to interact, retreat
and enjoy. This same type of ameni-
ty can make a difference in creating
a thriving multifamily project.
The design for Alexan LoHi, for
example, includes an interior court-
yard that serves as an urban oasis
and encourages residents to meet
one another. Regatta Sloan’s Lake
features interior gathering spaces
for residents that seamlessly con-
nect to two interior courtyards. The
project also uses Sloan’s Lake Park
as a common space, offering rent-
able paddleboards and kayaks to
residents for use on the lake.
When done with intention and
care, multifamily projects have the
ability to both reflect and enhance
the uniqueness and character of
these special neighborhoods. These
projects have a special opportunity
to create a lasting impact on resi-
dents and the greater community
for years to come.s
Liz McDonald,
AIA, LEED AP
Principal, Johnson
Nathan Strohe,
Denver