1. Domino sugar factory remake gets its first occupants
The 16-story, 800,000-sf 325 Kent building is the first structure to open at the $3 billion, 11-acre Domino Sugar Factory redevelopment on the waterfront in Brooklyn, N.Y. Designed by SHoP Architects for owner/developer Two Trees Management, the dramatically shaped edifice brings much-needed rental housing to booming Brooklyn. One-fifth of the 522 units have been set aside for low-income residents. (Two Trees received more than 87,000 applications for the 104 affordable units.) The building’s doughnut-shaped west façade is formed by a three-story amenities structure that spans the two apartment towers at the top levels. On the east façade, the residential floors step up in terraces to connect the existing neighborhood with the taller Domino buildings. Studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and one-bedroom with home office rentals are available, starting at $2,495/month.
2. 12-story tower addresses needs of San Diego's homeless
San Diego County has more than 9,000 homeless persons. “Atmosphere,” a new 12-story edifice with 205 one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, provides 51 permanent supportive apartments for the formerly homeless, including those with mental disabilities. Through the Housing First model, Atmosphere also provides social support service to these residents. Subsidized rents in the $79.3 million project range from $525 to $1,250/month. Joseph Wong Design Associates was the architect and Suffolk Construction the GC for developer Wakeland Housing and Development Corporation.
3.Co-living operator 'common' opens its second D.C. location
Developer and operator Common sees opportunity for growth in co-living projects. Common Bowman is its latest location, and its second in Washington, D.C. The 8,300-sf home, located in Chinatown, includes 14 fully furnished bedrooms across four suites. Residents (called “members”) share furnished living rooms, en suite balconies, and a roof deck with views of the city. Member benefits: weekly room cleaning, shared supplies, WiFi, heating/AC, on-site laundry, and access to Common’s networking events. The developer now has 14 locations across Chicago, New York, Oakland, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
4. Rental multiplex adds 201 subsidized units in Las vegas
Twenty-one buildings constructed between 1958 and 1960 have been rehabilitated into 201 subsidized apartments in Las Vegas. Families earning up to 60% of area median income were eligible to receive Section 8 rental assistance in the new complex, known as Baltimore Gardens and Cleveland Gardens. Community Development Partners pulled together $21 million in financing from tax-exempt state bonds, HOME funds, and equity from the sale of 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits. The project team: Integrated Design & Architecture (architect), Cornerstone Residential (property manager), and Precision General Contractors (GC).
5. L.A. Development caters to two neighborhoods with a single structure
Situated at the crossroads of two distinct neighborhoods in Mid-City Los Angeles—Fairfax, a busy commercial thoroughfare, and Orange Grove, a quiet residential street—the five-story VINZ on Fairfax mixed-use development appears as two separate buildings, each matching the scale and vibe of its adjacent neighborhood. Shimmering silver screens highlight a more vibrant, emotional aesthetic along Fairfax Avenue, while a muted design styling makes up the Orange Grove exterior. Developer Alliance Residential Company brought 144 rental units and 4,280 sf of commercial retail and amenities spaces to Mid-City. Available units start at $2,950/month: studios, one/two bedroom rentals, three-story townhomes, and penthouses with private elevator access. Amenities: zero-edge pool, outdoor cooking area, fitness center, outdoor movie screen, and electric-car charging stations. Cuningham Group was design architect; Gensler did the interiors.
Photos: Adrian Gault
Related Stories
| Jun 10, 2014
Built-in balcony: New skylight windows can fold out to create a patio
Roof window manufacturer Fakro offers a skylight window system that quickly converts into an open-air balcony.
| Jun 9, 2014
Green Building Initiative launches Green Globes for Sustainable Interiors program
The new program focuses exclusively on the sustainable design and construction of interior spaces in nonresidential buildings and can be pursued by both building owners and individual lessees of commercial spaces.
Sponsored | | Jun 4, 2014
Fiber cement panels bridge historic and modern at Minneapolis apartment complex
The design team for the Third North apartment complex specified Nichiha’s Illumination Series architectural panels in a blend of six colors—divided into swaths of reds and swaths of grays—that combine with a rectilinear shape to complement nearby brick.
| Jun 3, 2014
Libeskind's latest skyscraper breaks ground in the Philippines
The Century Spire, Daniel Libeskind's latest project, has just broken ground in Century City, southwest of Manila. It is meant to accommodate apartments and offices.
| Jun 2, 2014
Parking structures group launches LEED-type program for parking garages
The Green Parking Council, an affiliate of the International Parking Institute, has launched the Green Garage Certification program, the parking industry equivalent of LEED certification.
| May 30, 2014
MIT researchers create 'home in a box' transformable wall system for micro apartments
Dubbed CityHome, the system integrates furniture, storage, exercise equipment, lighting, office equipment, and entertainment systems into a compact wall unit.
| May 30, 2014
Developer will convert Dallas' storied LTV Building into mixed-use residential tower
New Orleans-based HRI Properties recently completed the purchase of one of the most storied buildings in downtown Dallas. The developer will convert the LTV Building into a mixed-use complex, with 171 hotel rooms and 186 luxury apartments.
| May 29, 2014
7 cost-effective ways to make U.S. infrastructure more resilient
Moving critical elements to higher ground and designing for longer lifespans are just some of the ways cities and governments can make infrastructure more resilient to natural disasters and climate change, writes Richard Cavallaro, President of Skanska USA Civil.
| May 29, 2014
Wood advocacy groups release 'lessons learned' report on tall wood buildings
The wood-industry advocacy group reThink Wood has released "Summary Report: Survey of International Tall Wood Buildings," with informatino from 10 mid-rise projects in Europe, Australia, and Canada.
| May 28, 2014
Moshe Safdie's twin residential towers in Singapore will be connected by 'sky pool' 38 stories in the air [slideshow]
Moshe Safdie's latest project, a pair of 38-story luxury residential towers in Singapore, will be linked by three "sky garden" bridges, including a rooftop-level bridge with a lap pool running the length between the two structures.
