11 notable multifamily projects to debut in 2021

1. Masonic lodge in Princeton turned into 10 apartments 

Architecture firm JZA+D and its project team gutted Aaron Lodge No. 9, a 1913 Masonic lodge in the predominantly African-American Witherspoon-Jackson historic district of Princeton, N.J., installed a stair and elevator tower, and added a fourth floor to create 10 residences, two of which are ADA compliant. Also contributing to the project, known as 30 Mac, for Princeton Maclean Partners (developer): Harrison-Hammett (SE), MaGrann Associates (MEP, LEED consultant), Milex Construction (carpentry), and ML 7 Construction & Design (GC). Photo: Michael Slack, courtesy JZA+D

2. San Francisco gains 157 family-oriented residences

Children enjoy the rooftop playground at GreenPoint Gold–rated La Fénix at 1950 Mission, a 157-rental complex in San Francisco’s Mission District designed by David Baker Architects for Mission Housing Development Corp. and BRIDGE Housing. The $81.6 million community, which serves the homeless and families earning 45-60% AMI, features Latin and Central American themes, such as the Paseo de Artistas (by associate architect Cervantes Design Associates). Other team members: Tipping Structural Engineers (SE), Carlile Macy (CE), Emerald City Engineers (MEP), GLS Landscape | Architecture (landscape design), Bright Green Strategies (sustainability consultant), PODER (community outreach), and Swinerton (GC). Photo: ©Bruce Damonte

3. Infill rentals come ashore at Long Beach 

MVE + Partners (architect) designed Volta on Pine, a 285,415-sf infill mixed-use development in downtown Long Beach, Calif., for developer Holland Partner Group. It features 271 studios and one- to three-bedroom units (11 exclusively for middle-income renters), a rooftop terrace and sky lounge, a fitness center, a swimming pool with sun deck, a hot hub, outdoor grills and firepits, parcel lockers, EV charging stations, bike storage, and 341 parking stalls. LRM (landscape architect) and Arial Fox (interior design) contributed to the enterprise. Photo courtesy Holland Partner Group 

4. Luxury living in North Fort Worth 

Presidium Revelstoke is the first of a three-part, 1,100-unit development plan by Texas-based Presidium. The three-story, 408-unit luxury complex on 17 acres is a 10-minute drive to Alliance Town Center, an upscale shopping/dining center in North Fort Worth. Amenities include a 10,000-sf clubhouse, a pool with cabanas, game areas, a second-floor deck, a full-size demonstration kitchen, a billiards room, a fitness center, a dog park with washing station, a car wash, EV charging ports, and a playground. O’Brien Architects (designer), Kimley-Horn (CE), and Provident General Contractors (builder) performed the work. Photo: Jeff Brady, 360X360 Tours 

5. P3 student residence at ASU earns sustainability honors 

In the summer of 2020, Capstone Development Partners, Harrison Street Real Estate Capital, and the design-build team of CORE Construction (GC) and Shepley Bulfinch (architect) completed Lantana Hall, on ASU’s Polytechnic Campus, Mesa. The P3 project earned LEED for Homes Platinum, making it the only the LEED Platinum student housing project on any of ASU’s campuses. The 376-bed residence was also awarded the 2021 Student Housing Business Innovator Award for Best Use of Green & Sustainable Construction/Design. Other AEC partners on the job: PK Associates (SE), Peterson Associates (MEP), DIG Studio (landscape architect), Sheward Partnership (energy modeling, civic design), and Green Insight (LEED consultant). Photo: ©2020 Kyle Zirkus

6. First-year students at CU Denver get a honey of a residence hall 

The new City Heights Residence Hall and Learning Commons is the first student housing complex on the University of Colorado Denver campus to be devoted to first-year students. “Students who live on campus their first year are likelier to stay in school, perform better, and feel more connected,” said CU Denver Chancellor Michelle Marks. JE Dunn Construction and Stantec led the design-build team on the 270-unit, 555-bed residence and dining hall: Jirsa-Hedrick (SE), Martin|Martin (CE), Givens and Associates (M/P engineer), Hunt Engineering (electrical), and Ambient (Cx agent, LEED advisor). The seven-story structure has five beehives to support CU Denver’s pollinator habitat. LEED Gold is being pursued. Photo: Callie Morris, courtesy JE Dunn 

7. Workforce housing creates opportunity in East Oakland 

Real estate firm Riaz Capital has set a goal to open a pipeline of 1,200 “Affordable by Design” workforce housing rentals in the East Oakland (Calif.) Opportunity Zone. The Linden is the first to open under this initiative. Its 30 units of entry-level housing (average rent: $1,868/month) are targeted for nurses, teachers, and first responders. Riaz Capital has received entitlements for three more such projects in Oakland. Photo courtesy Riaz Capital

8. A mix of the historic and the modern in New Haven

The Whitney Modern is a 42-unit rental complex in New Haven, Conn., a 15-minute walk from the Yale University campus. It includes a new 35-unit, bifurcated structure and the reconstruction of the historic Abner Hendee House (1902), now known as The Cottage, and its original carriage house. Amenities include a yoga studio, library, and fitness center. GLUCK+ (architect) headed the project team for developer 703 Whitney LLC: Michael Horton Associates (SE), Milone & MacBroom (CE), Stantec (MEP/FP/IT), GZA GeoEnvironmental Engineers (geotechnical), and Secondino and Son (GC). Photo: Brad Dickson

9. It’s a ‘Cornerstone’ for low-income families in Northern New Jersey

Cornerstone at Howell, a $22.7 million LEED Gold community in Howell, N.J., offers 72 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with private entrances for families earning 60% AMI. The 12-acre complex has a clubhouse, fitness center, computer workstations, tot lot, basketball court, and indoor/outdoor social spaces. The project team: Haley Donovan Architects (designer), K2 Consulting Engineers (CE), Summit Engineers Associates (MEP), EAM Associates (LEED consultant), and Walters Cornerstone Contracting (GC). Photo courtesy Walters 

10. Biophilia, wellness are its main themes

At the 112-unit Aegis Living Bellevue Overlake, near Washington’s Mount Rainier, senior residents can benefit from biophilic design elements, such as this outdoor space (with its own salvaged seaplane). A wellness corridor offers massage, a balance studio, a saltwater pool, a juice bar, and an activity center. “The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how quickly we could innovate and make a life-changing impact on our residents,” said Aegis Living President Kris Engskov. Photo courtesy Aegis Living 

11. Florida’s first LGBTQ+ senior housing project 

The Residences at Equality Park, a $15.3 million development in Wilton Manors, is Florida’s first affordable housing project with supportive services for LGBTQ+ senior adults (55+) with disabling conditions, including HIV/AIDS. The four-story building has 43 studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments that are reserved for residents earning 60% AMI; five more are set aside for those at 33% AMI. Amenities include a fitness center, library, and computer room, as well as 30,000 sf of office/meeting space for programs and services. Carrfour served as the project’s developer, operator, and service coordinator. More at: https://bit.ly/3gT2Epp. Photo: Eisenthesky Productions