The division between indoor and outdoor spaces continues to blur, with operable glass walls and wide French doors bringing the outdoors into indoor spaces. No longer is the back yard only for single-family developments.
Multifamily construction is evolving to accommodate this desire to create a connection between the indoors and outdoors. Condos extend to the balcony, common rooms extend to the roof deck, exercise rooms extend to the pool and living room extend to the courtyard.
No matter which version of housing is being constructed, the consumer demands this element. This is where the homebuyer can be social, foster friendships among neighbors, and feel like they are part of the community. Amenity spaces have never been more important or more in demand.
Hubbard Place is a 44-story, 450-unit apartment community in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, an established tech hub in the downtown area.
The building has an entire floor dedicated to communal and entertainment amenities, including a spa, billiards room, fitness center, and media, club, and conference rooms. Additional amenities include a swimming pool with a sun deck, landscaped garden, fire pit, and open-air kitchen on an outdoor deck on the 9th floor.
Seat walls and room divisions were created on the roof deck with Unilock® wall systems. The paver pattern directs pedestrian flow and creates distinct spaces using different colors and textures of Unilock Umbriano® and Series™ products.
The building aimed to establish connections between Hubbard Place residents and local merchants, with thoughtful design that took an inclusive view of the surrounding community.
Taking the community approach even further, the 44-story tower features a lushly landscaped park open to residents and community members.
This LEED Silver-certified project offers luxury living and sophistication in rental residences.
For more information, visit unilock.com.
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
10% of world's skyscraper construction on hold
Emporis, the largest provider of global building data worldwide, reported that 8.7% of all skyscrapers listed as "under construction" in its database had been put on hold. Most of these projects have been halted in the second half of 2008. According to Emporis statistics, the United States had been hit the worst: at the beginning of 2008, "Met 3" in Miami was the only U.S. skyscraper listed as being "on hold". In the second half of the year, 19 projects followed suit.
| Aug 11, 2010
Structure Tone, Turner among the nation's busiest reconstruction contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 75 Reconstruction Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Skanska completes $74 million Harbor Towers project six months ahead of schedule
Skanska USA Building Inc. announced the completion of a $74 million rehabilitation project at Harbor Towers, a 40-story luxury condominium complex comprising two towers located on Boston’s waterfront. Skanska served as Program Manager and oversaw the repair and replacement work that dramatically enhanced the reliability, cost-effectiveness, and energy efficiency of the buildings’ MEP systems.
| Aug 11, 2010
Best AEC Firms of 2011/12
Later this year, we will launch Best AEC Firms 2012. We’re looking for firms that create truly positive workplaces for their AEC professionals and support staff. Keep an eye on this page for entry information. +
| Aug 11, 2010
Manitoba Hydro Place, Tornado Tower among world's 'best tall buildings,' according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat last week announced the winners of its annual “Best Tall Building” awards for 2009, recognizing one outstanding tall building from each of four geographical regions: Americas, Asia & Australia, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. This year’s winners are: Manitoba Hydro Place, Winnipeg, Canada; Linked Hybrid, Beijing, China; The Broadgate Tower, London, UK; Tornado Tower, Doha, Qatar.
| Aug 11, 2010
Call for entries: Building enclosure design awards
The Boston Society of Architects and the Boston chapter of the Building Enclosure Council (BEC-Boston) have announced a High Performance Building award that will assess building enclosure innovation through the demonstrated design, construction, and operation of the building enclosure.
| Aug 11, 2010
CampusBrands Inc., NYLO Hotels team to launch student housing franchise brand
Which would you choose: the cramped quarters, thin mattresses, and crowded communal bathrooms of dormitory life or a new type of student housing with comfortable couches, a game room, fitness center, Wi-Fi in every room, flat-screen televisions and maybe even a theater?
| Aug 11, 2010
Portland Cement Association offers blast resistant design guide for reinforced concrete structures
Developed for designers and engineers, "Blast Resistant Design Guide for Reinforced Concrete Structures" provides a practical treatment of the design of cast-in-place reinforced concrete structures to resist the effects of blast loads. It explains the principles of blast-resistant design, and how to determine the kind and degree of resistance a structure needs as well as how to specify the required materials and details.
