255 South State Street

The 80 percent affordable development adds needed housing to the downtown business district. The aesthetic combines elegant and contemporary glass and sleek metal with the industrial feel of an artist loft utilizing galvanized steel, zinc paneling, and brick. The midrise tower utilizes standard construction techniques and materials such as wood, concrete and steel; the 14-story high-rise tower leverages a steel structural system aimed at shortening overall construction timeline and achieving more affordable construction costs.

Ten levels of load-bearing, factory panelized walls sit above a three-level concrete podium and create the framework for residential units. Design guidelines called for a midblock crossing and preservation of an existing two-story historic building. Architects turned the crossing into an outdoor public paseo that bisects the development, inviting the public to move from the sidewalk through the community, creating an active public space. The paseo is capped by an outdoor gathering space/amphitheater and a historic home, which is renovated as a residence above a ground-floor restaurant. Commercial tenants, restaurants, a food hall, and live-work units line the paseo on the ground floors. The food hall is unique to the community and draws lunchtime workers during the day and urban dwellers at night, creating a 24/7 environment. The transit-oriented development is walkable to metro stops.