Right at Home:
Residential Design for Vertical Living
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September is move-in month and in honor of this Architectural Systems is highlighting innovative designs in multi-family/high-rise buildings. Due to this highly competitive market segment, developers retain designers to focus on both communal and private spaces to attract residents. The thread of inspiration behind these featured projects is to showcase the welcoming spaces these luxury dwellings create.
Whether a publicly funded complex in Lower Manhattan, a renovated train station in Minneapolis, or a ultra-luxe high-rise along Chicago's River North, these projects incorporate the same ASI materials in a different approach to reinforce an aesthetic residents want to come home to.
The Soo Line Building City Apartments were originally built for the First National Bank of Minneapolis in 1915 and was the tallest building in the city, then was converted into the headquarters for the Soo Line Railroad. The Soo Line Building now represents the best in lifestyle living, says Partner at the BVK Group, Kelly Naylor, "by transforming this historic building into a mixed-use luxury rental, the combination of new and existing materials creates a truly unique residential experience." The Fusión Wood Panels were produced from reclaimed wine barrels and were installed in the main rooftop common area, showcasing a blend of old world craftsmanship with contemporary design to bring texture and dimension for an organic architectural statement. Kelly continues on this note:

Moving East to Chicago, there was a similar design brief to how residents would interpret the communal space. OneEleven, designed by the firm Kara Mann, is right in the heart of The Loop with world-class shopping and fine dining. To speak to the area's urban sophistication the design team chose ASI's Eco-Porcelain III for the building's two-story rooftop flooring as a compliment to the building's premium amenities which included one of a kind views of the lake and cityscape and even private spa pet care.
Kara Mann, Principal, behind OneEleven says:
The juxtaposition of materials is important when creating a dynamic setting especially in the Grand Street Guild, an 800+ unit complex in Lower Manhattan. The designers from Cutsogeorge Tooman & Allen Architects, P.C., were awarded the public housing project and were able to select both the Fusión Wood Panels and ASI Eco-Porcelain III for the main lobby's floors, walls, and soffits which encompasses a three-square block urban apartment complex.
The incorporation of good design and distinctive materials in the building lobbies enables people that reside in public housing to be proud of where they live. Principal of Cutsogeorge Tooman & Allen Architects, P.C., Craig Tooman, says,

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