Salt Lake City, Utah, is home to a new mixed-use residential community, Slate, that benefits from transit-oriented zoning and cleverly designed multifamily units. At 915 Washington Street—the heart of the city's Central Ninth neighborhood—Slate features 150 residential units ranging from studio to two-bedroom.
Affordability-Designed Micro Units
Architect KTGY designed the units with an affordable-by-design approach. While the two-bedroom units sit in the 900-sf range, Slate's one-bedroom apartments are around 440-sf, and studios average 350-sf as "micro units."
In designing smaller units, the firm aimed to extend the width while shrinking depth, according to Nathan Sciarra, AIA, NCARB, Principal, KTGY.
"In doing so, we were able to create smaller units that live like big units," says Sciarra.
This coincides with a recent trend of allocating more space to community amenities and spaces at the cost of individual unit size. This is especially evident in affordable housing communities.
Slate's larger two-bedroom units appeal to families, students, and work-from-home professionals. In tandem with its array of amenities, easy access to public transit, and an active ground level dense with commercial space, the community draws a diverse crowd.
Transit-Oriented Location
The mixed-use development sits adjacent to the Central Ninth Trax station, near the Central Business District of Downtown Salt Lake City. This central location offers tenants a five-minute walk to local hotspots, and a 30-minute tram ride to the Salt Lake City International Airport.
Slate's exterior also features various murals painted by local artists, softening its scale and giving it "a spark of personality," says Sciarra.
On the Building Team:
Developer: Urban Alfandre and Gardner Batt
Architect: KTGY
MEP: Royal Engineering
GC: Zwick Construction
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
Accor North America launches green hotel pilot program
Accor North America, a division of Accor Hospitality, has announced that it will pilot the Green Key Eco-Rating Program within its portfolio in the United States in 2010. Green Key is the first program of its kind to rank, certify and inspect hotels and resorts based on their commitment to sustainable "green" practices; the Accor North America pilot will involve 20 properties.
| Aug 11, 2010
CTBUH changes height criteria; Burj Dubai height increases, others decrease
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)—the international body that arbitrates on tall building height and determines the title of “The World’s Tallest Building”—has announced a change to its height criteria, as a reflection of recent developments with several super-tall buildings.
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, Arup, AECOM top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 75 largest international design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 International Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
See what $3,000 a month will get you at Chicago’s Aqua Tower
Magellan Development Group has opened three display models for the rental portion of Chicago’s highly anticipated Aqua Tower, designed by Jeanne Gang. Lease rates range from $1,498 for a studio to $3,111 for a two-bedroom unit with lake views.
| Aug 11, 2010
Architecture Billings Index flat in May, according to AIA
After a slight decline in April, the Architecture Billings Index was up a tenth of a point to 42.9 in May. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. Any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings.
| Aug 11, 2010
Construction employment declined in 333 of 352 metro areas in June
Construction employment declined in all but 19 communities nationwide this June as compared to June-2008, according to a new analysis of metropolitan-area employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The analysis shows that few places in America have been spared the widespread downturn in construction employment over the past year.
| Aug 11, 2010
Casino Queen breaks ground on $2.15 million entertainment venue
The Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Ill., is raising the stakes in its bid to capture a larger share of the local gaming market with the start of construction on a new $2.15 million sports bar and entertainment venue that will enhance the overall experience for guests.
| Aug 11, 2010
Outdated office tower becomes Nashville’s newest boutique hotel
A 1960s office tower in Nashville, Tenn., has been converted into a 248-room, four-star boutique hotel. Designed by Earl Swensson Associates, with PowerStrip Studio as interior designer, the newly converted Hutton Hotel features 54 suites, two penthouse apartments, 13,600 sf of meeting space, and seven “cardio” rooms.
