Multifamily Performance and Value

Innovative technologies and products reshape new wave of lifestyles and living units
This course is no longer active
[ Page 3 of 9 ]  previous page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 next page
Sponsored by Bison Innovative Products, ClimateMaster, Cosella-Dörken Products Inc., EFCO, a Pella Company, NanaWall Systems, Pella Commercial Solutions, reThink Wood, Simonton Windows®, and TOTO USA
C.C. Sullivan

Micro-Housing Gets Bigger

Efficiency is important—but it's not just energy efficiency in today's market. “Space efficiency is the name of the game for growing segments of the multifamily market, including very small apartments that range from 250 to 450 square feet,” says Andrew Franz, AIA, principal of Andrew Franz Architect, New York City. “These new typologies are meant to accommodate a growing urban demographic: one- and two-person households, often of young professionals, who need to live more economically in the city.”

In fact, in New York, longstanding zoning regulations were recently waived to allow a city-owned property with 55 micro-units as part of a local pilot. Designed by the architecture firms Monadnock and nARCHITECTS, the project uses prefabricated, modular construction techniques and will rent at $950 to $1,900 per apartment.

In Boston, market-rate developments of similar sizes are planned for the fast-growing Seaport District, including the $100-million Boston Wharf Tower, designed by ADD Inc. (The city allows floor plans as small as a tidy 300 square feet.) Others, such as the luxury high-rise The Kensington, designed by The Architectural Team, include efficient “open one-bedrooms” of about 550 square feet. In San Francisco, the smallest pads ever include 220-square-foot units starting at about $975 per month.1

In fact, micro-units are a new riff on an old and much-maligned idea: single-room occupancy or SRO buildings, many with shared kitchens or bathrooms, which were opposed by building departments in these same cities just a few years ago. Today, leaders including Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and San Francisco's Edwin M. Lee are eager to entice young professionals with more affordable downtown housing options to stabilize neighborhoods.

Unlike SROs, today's market-rate micro-pads are hardly cheap: A 450-square-foot unit might go for $2,200 per month. With pull-out sofas or Murphy beds, small bathrooms, and open or galley-style kitchens, the apartments often come with shared amenities in common zones to allow residents to escape from their confines and socialize with likeminded tenants.

“In these ways, micro-units are starting to resemble assisted-living facilities, an ironic parallel between young professionals and seniors with a certain degree of acuity,” says Michael E. Liu, AIA, NCARB, vice president with The Architectural Team in Chelsea, Mass. “Some developers see an opportunity to convert their micro-unit projects to housing for older, more frail populations as demographics shift.” While the net-to-gross ratio, which compares living unit area against common space, tends to be higher for ALFs, so too are the rents—typically about three times what the apartments command.

 

[ Page 3 of 9 ]  previous page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 next page
Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in April 2013

Notice

Academies
Multifamily Performance and Value
Buyer's Guide
Wood—A Renewable and Responsible Choice
Wood typically costs less—economically and environmentally—while delivering more in terms of its beauty, versatility, and performance. It meets code requirements in mid-rise and multifamily buildings, and can be used as a low-carbon alternative to steel, masonry, and concrete in many applications. Wood is more than a building material; it's a renewable and responsible choice.
(Pictured: Marselle Condominium, Seattle, WA. PB Architects. Photo by Matt Todd Photography, courtesy of WoodWorks.)
reThink Wood
www.rethinkwood.com
The Beauty of Wood Meets the Convenience of Vinyl
When architects want the aesthetic qualities of wood, but the energy efficiency and convenience of vinyl, they specify Simonton ProFinish® Brickmould 600 windows and patio doors. The multi-tiered frame design and broad flat casing surround suggest the classic look of wood windows, while simulated divided lites provide the appearance of separate panes of glass. In the project pictured, five Simonton ProFinish® Brickmould 600 Double Hung windows with interior woodgrain and simulated divided lites provide the rich look of wood.
Simonton Windows®
www.Simonton.com
Ultra High-Efficiency Toilet
Featuring TOTO's superior Double Cyclone® technology, the Drake II 1G™ uses a responsible gallon of water to provide an effective flush. Its uncomplicated design pairs well with any aesthetic, while remaining planet-friendly and respecting water.
TOTO USA
www.totousa.com
Rooftop Deck Solutions
Bison Innovative Products include: Bison Deck Supports, which are made in the USA with 20 percent post-consumer recycled materials; Modular Bison Cubes with recycled content, custom colors, finishes, and sizes; and Commercial-Grade Modular Bison Wood Tiles with Class A fire ratings. Standard and FSC-certified species and custom sizes are available.
Bison Innovative Products
www.BisonIP.com
Water-Resistive Barriers and Ventilated Rainscreens
DELTA®-VENT SA (pictured here) is a vapor permeable, self-adhering water-resistive barrier and air barrier with a unique front side adhesive edge. DELTA®-DRY is a ventilated rainscreen for absorptive claddings now available in a "Stucco & Stone" version.
Cosella-Dörken Products Inc.
www.cosella-dorken.com
Water-Source Heat Pump Systems
ClimateMaster's Tranquility® 22 Two-Stage Compact (TY) Series offers the following features and benefits:
  • Used in geothermal and water-source heat pump applications
  • Exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 efficiencies with twostage operation
  • Uses EarthPure® (HFC-410A) zero-ozonedepletion refrigerant, making it an extremely environmentally friendly option
  • Its multiple cabinet configurations and small footprint make it suitable for tight installations and for replacement/retrofit markets
  • Features iGate technology, the next generation in intelligent control by using two-way communication to provide a gateway to the system.
ClimateMaster
www.climatemaster.com
Unitized Curtain Wall
The 8750XD Unitized Curtain Wall is the newest member of EFCO's XTherm® family of products. Thanks to its strut design, with patented Duracast® fiberglass composite, it can offer a best-in-class U-factor. With optional 875X Wall Vent, it is sure to meet your design needs.
EFCO, a Pella Company
www.efcocorp.com
Operable Glass Walls
NanaWall operable glass walls are recognized as the brand symbolizing quality, performance, and durability. Every NanaWall system is a single-source product with components produced as a complete system. With over 20 custom systems backed by 25 years of design experience, NanaWall Systems offers a solution for almost any space.
NanaWall Systems
www.NanaWall.com