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
| Jan 28, 2014
First Look: BIG's Honeycomb building for Bahamas resort [slideshow]
BIG + HKS + MDA have unveiled the design for the new Honeycomb building and adjacent plaza in The Bahamas – a 175,000-sf residential facility with a private pool on each balcony.
| Jan 28, 2014
2014 predictions for skyscraper construction: More twisting towers, mega-tall projects, and 'superslim' designs
Experts from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat release their 2014 construction forecast for the worldwide high-rise industry.
| Jan 28, 2014
16 awe-inspiring interior designs from around the world [slideshow]
The International Interior Design Association released the winners of its 4th Annual Global Excellence Awards. Here's a recap of the winning projects.
| Jan 24, 2014
Urban Land Institute, Enterprise outline issues in rental housing shortage: Report
Bending the Cost Curve: Solutions to Expand the Supply of Affordable Rentals outlines factors that impede the development of affordable rental housing – causing the supply in many markets to fall far short of the demand.
| Jan 22, 2014
SOM-designed University Center uses 'sky quads,' stacked staircases to promote chance encounters
The New School's vertical campus in Manhattan houses multiple functions, including labs, design studios, a library, and student residences, in a 16-story building.
| Jan 13, 2014
Custom exterior fabricator A. Zahner unveils free façade design software for architects
The web-based tool uses the company's factory floor like "a massive rapid prototype machine,” allowing designers to manipulate designs on the fly based on cost and other factors, according to CEO/President Bill Zahner.
| Jan 8, 2014
Strengthened sprinkler rules could aid push for mid-rise wood structures in Canada
Strengthened sprinkler regulations proposed for the 2015 National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) could help a movement to allow midrise wood structures.
Smart Buildings | Jan 7, 2014
9 mega redevelopments poised to transform the urban landscape
Slowed by the recession—and often by protracted negotiations—some big redevelopment plans are now moving ahead. Here’s a sampling of nine major mixed-use projects throughout the country.
| Jan 3, 2014
World’s tallest vegetated façade to sprout in Sri Lanka [slideshow]
Set to open in late 2015, the 46-story Clearpoint Residences condo tower will feature planted terraces circling the entire structure.
| Dec 31, 2013
BD+C's top 10 stories of 2013
The world's tallest twisting tower and the rise of augmented reality technology in construction were among the 10 most popular articles posted on Building Design+Construction's website, BDCnetwork.com.