Super-Midrise Case Study 20.1

Essay 20. 1

ZIEGLER COOPER

SUPER-MIDRISE

The Next Building Typology Trend

Morgan Pearl Rosemont, Houston, Texas

Hines Wynkoop, Denver, Colorado

The Super-Midrise, a term coined by Ziegler Cooper Architects in 2019, describes a new typology of urban residential architecture that neither qualifies as midrise nor a conventional high-rise structure. » The Super-Midrise is a nine-story load-bearing metal stud structure over a concrete podium. » A typical wood-frame midrise is a five-story wood-frame structure over a concrete podium.

This new typology answers the following market conditions: » Desire and need to achieve greater density. » Dwindling supply and growing cost of sites. » High development cost associated with conventional concrete high-rise building typology.

THE BREAKTHROUGH: The Super-Midrise is ideally suited for a single city block, where a density of 250275 units-per-acre can be achieved versus 125-140 units-per-acre achievable with a typical five-story wood-frame midrise structure over a concrete podium.

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Super-Midrise development pays two dividends compared to conventional concrete high-rise, as demonstrated in ZCA’s recently designed apartment developments: » In today’s Houston prices, the cost of a Super-Midrise building is approximately $50/net rentable square feet (or 20%) less than the cost of a conventional concrete high-rise building. » The Super-Midrise typology doubles the density that can be achieved with the typical five-story wood-frame midrise structure over a concrete podium.

“ The Super-Midrise typology can achieve a density of 295 units on a single city block, whereas a wood-frame midrise podium would require two city blocks to achieve the same density.”

– Scott Ziegler, AIA

EXEMPLARS OF THE SUPER-MIDRISE: Hines Wynkoop development on the drawing boards for the River North (RiNo) Art District of Denver, Colorado is the first Super-Midrise for Denver. This apartment building is part of a Master Development that includes a music venue for concerts, an office building, a boutique hotel, retail, and artists’ lofts. The apartment building consists of approximately 342,000 net rentable square feet with 397 units and nearly 36,000 square feet of common amenities. The lively street-level amenity package includes several artist studios, generous retail experiences, and a dog spa and park. The fourth-floor amenity deck with rooftop pool above the podium provides a viewing deck to enjoy the mountain views to the northwest and

Morgan Pearl Rosemont, Houston, Texas

downtown views to the southwest. The amenity level is complete with outdoor kitchen and dining adjacent to a bocce court and grassy hammock lounge. An outdoor rooftop grotto allows for intimate gatherings around a backyard fire pit.

Morgan Pearl Rosemont, designed for Houston’s Midtown district, is a luxury apartment building comprising 258,000 net rentable square feet with 298 units, all with balconies, and 9,135 square feet of common and amenity areas. The Level-Five pool deck boasts a resort-style pool, with outdoor kitchen, aqua lounge, and indoor fitness and yoga room. The Super-Midrise offers superior views over the traditional midrise because it puts all units above the tree line.

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SUMMARY As people get back to normal following an unprecedented time of enforced isolation because of 2020’s global pandemic, they will resume social behaviors natural to the human race. The public realm created by the thoughtful design at the base of our apartment buildings, for example, offers a sense of connection, neighborhood and belonging. Street cafes offer a place to meet friends, or just sit and watch the world go by. These experiences may be thoughtfully designed into high-rise or the typical midrise apartment building. It takes a passion for design, expertise and innovation to create these experiences in an efficient, carefully curated design that opens new opportunities to insightful developers. As cities continue to densify, the Super-Midrise may become a specialized typology, adding value and appeal to cities built for people.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Scott Ziegler, AIA As Founding Principal of the firm and leader of the Urban Architecture Studio, Scott’s design experience reflects his belief that inspirational architecture enriches people’s lives, uplifts the human spirit, and provides a constant vision of excellence. As Residential Practice Area Leader, Scott plays an active role in shaping the urban landscape through his published writings in professional journals on the subjects of sustainable urban growth strategies and highdensity mixed-use developments.

Ziegler Cooper Architects 700 Louisiana, Ste 350 Houston, TX 77002 t: 713.374.0000 www.zieglercooper.com 4