Multifamily builders have more ways than ever to maximize outdoor spaces

Whether it’s an upscale apartment complex with a poolside fire ring or the installation of a gourmet stainless steel outdoor kitchen on the rooftop of a luxury condominium tower, multifamily builders are finding new ways to utilize outdoor spaces to offer more value to buyers and renters. As the market has become more constrained, builders have been under pressure to adapt and find new ways to set their projects apart while also maximizing every square foot of available space, both indoors and out.

Streamlining kitchen spaces that sell

Multifamily builders are reconsidering traditional approaches to kitchen designs as they look for ways to set their buildings apart from the crowd. Unique finishes, cleverly concealed appliances, and cleaner proportional sight lines were just a few of the emerging trends in multifamily kitchen designs identified at the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s (NKBA) 2010 industry show held in Chicago this past April.

Urban infill project taps into design and close-by transportation

Designed by KTGY Group Inc. Architecture and Planning, The Crossing recently celebrated the completion of a new luxury, transit-oriented apartment community in Anaheim, CA. Developed by SARES•REGIS Group, the largest privately held developer of green apartment units in Southern California, The Crossing provides amenity-rich, pet- and eco-friendly living adjacent to the Metrolink Anaheim Canyon Station, close to employment, shopping, dining and entertainment, and with easy access to freeways.

Senior living gets luxurious

When most people think of senior assisted living, visions of fluorescent lights, handrails and large, hospital-like corridors usually come to mind. But in some communities, nothing could be further from the truth.

“These places aren’t built like a skilled nursing facility; they’re built like a posh resort,” said Lee Ratta, senior vice president of organizational advancement for the Front Porch Development company, based out of Burbank, CA.

Life-cycle costing can help builders and developers evaluate whether or not it makes financial sense to install high-performance or green products

Life-cycle costing (LCC), or a life-cycle costing analysis (LCCA), examines the cumulative costs associated with owning a product, material or technology over a defined time period and can be very useful to builders and developers for choosing the most economical building designs. This approach takes into account a range of price considerations such as initial costs and installation, as well as future expenses over the life of the product associated with utility expenses, maintenance, repairs, operation and even disposal.