5 Designers Share Transformative Multifamily Projects

“The location of Sutton Tower, an 850-foot-tall Manhattan structure near the bank of the East River, meant we had to consider both the local community’s point of view and the perspective of distance. Given its visibility from the Long Island Expressway in Queens and the FDR Drive, we had to ensure the scale of the articulation would read from afar, which helped guide the exterior design. It was a great civic responsibility—and honor—to design the building not only for tower residents but also for all those in and around the city.” —Thomas Juul-Hansen, Thomas Juul-Hansen

“The Travis Building, originally 10 stories of offices, had experienced a decline in demand. However, its prime location along the San Antonio Riverwalk and in the central business district made it an ideal candidate for conversion into apartments. The challenge laid in maintaining its historic integrity. We preserved key architectural elements, including the original tiled corridor floors, while re­mov­ing dropped ceilings to enhance the spatial experience. The project’s success—evident in the full lease-up of its 63 units— has significantly influenced our approach and highlights the potential for converting workplaces into much-needed housing as demand for commercial real estate continues to fall. Additionally, by creating residential opportunities in urban centers, we’re helping reduce reliance on cars, fostering walkable communities, and further activating downtown cores.” —Kris Feldmann, CREO Architecture

“Multi-family work considers the connection between place and home. In an evolving world where space and time are fleeting, ‘home’ is essential. Central Station is, at its foundation, a public infrastructure project for the City of Phoenix that recognizes the importance of urban housing, public transportation, and public amenities. Our work explores spatial, ambient and material dimensions in its engagement with society.” —Kelly Hatch, Multistudio

“Clay Corner, a five-story apartment complex in Oˉtepoti Dunedin, New Zealand, is a best-in-class example of socially and environmentally sustainable city living. Mini­mi­zing the design’s envi­ronmental impact are low-carbon building systems, mass timber construction, photovoltaics, passive facade design, op­timized glazing ratios, and circular material consideration. For instance, a custom terrazzo facade we developed uses aggregates recovered from the site’s existing brick structure. Given the great challenges the construction industry faces, we hope this development will drive out­comes that go far beyond the cur­rent sus­tainability status quo to actively mitigate climate change.” —Raphaela Rose, ahha 

“People have become lonelier and more politically divided in recent years, so it’s important to offer attractive opportunities for interaction by designing buildings that work as vertical com­mu­nities. Our multifamily mid- and high-rises are conceived to be more like city fabric than isolated towers. The balconies of City Hyde Park and Aqua, both in Chicago, act like the porches and stoops of a traditional neighborhood. At 11 Hoyt in Brooklyn, New York, common spaces around the ground floor and the second-level outdoor landscape are what inspire social interaction. And we carved back the corners of Verde in San Francisco to create alternating terraces, unique across each floor, that allow residents to gather.” —Jeanne Gang, Studio Gang