A High-Profile Site with Competing Needs

On a narrow, high-visibility downtown site adjacent to a rail station, the project brought together multiple priorities, supporting urban housing goals while accommodating existing transportation and parking demands. The location, surrounded by active pedestrian routes and nearby destinations, presented a unique opportunity to create a more connected and vibrant environment.

Infrastructure at Odds with Urban Experience

The site was constrained by ongoing transit operations and the need for significant parking, both of which risked dominating the development and detracting from the pedestrian experience. Without a strategic approach, the project could have resulted in a highly visible parking structure that disrupted the surrounding urban fabric.

Wrapping Infrastructure with Experience

The design centers on a parking structure fully wrapped by housing, ground-floor retail and restaurants, and active edges on all sides, concealing the garage from view while activating the street. Parking is distributed across all levels, allowing residents to access spaces on the same floor as their units. Existing transit functions were carefully integrated into the first level of the structure, maintaining operations without interruption. Ground-floor programming reinforces the urban edge, engaging pedestrians and connecting to nearby destinations and trail systems. Architecturally, the building draws from the surrounding context through brick materials, façade articulation, and traditional roof forms, while incorporating contemporary elements to reflect the evolving character of the district.

A Seamless Urban Integration

The project transforms a constrained, infrastructure-heavy site into a cohesive mixed-use environment. By layering housing, mobility, and public-facing uses, it creates a development that supports both operational needs and urban vitality, contributing to a more connected and engaging downtown experience.