ZIEGLER COOPER
Essay 20.5.2
THE POINT TOWER Looking at Podium Garage Wraps
Caydon’s Laneways Drewery Place, Houston, Texas
Point Tower Characteristics & Advantages “A point tower is a compact, tall and slender residential building form with a small footprint, resting on a wellappointed mixed-use podium below.” – Scott Ziegler, AIA
In great part, the point tower typology came about to help provide higher density development for more walkable, urban living. A point tower lifts all residential units away from the hustle-and-bustle of the street while creating opportunities for desirable views for the residents, and more opportunities for active retail and commerce below.
In This Second in Our Point Tower Series, ZCA Looks Deeper Into Various Attributes and the Significance of the Point Tower Typology.
Marquette’s Catalyst Houston
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Point Towers create significant opportunities on top of podium garages for much greater green-roof and terrace areas, which makes for panoramic views. In turn, the rooftop podium placement of amenities provides for larger recreation areas and activities for health and wellness. 2
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Podium wraps create opportunities for inclusion of townhouses, retail, live-work units, and artist lofts, thereby creating an activated street scene. Additionally, wrap units can provide the opportunity for developers to offer components of affordable housing units
A wrap employing the five- to seven-story scale of the Paris Garden District conceals the garage podium to reinforce a healthy urban fabric and reduces the street-wall effect. Without such thoughtful design, the street-wall effect detracts from a sense of safety and well-being.
4 In most jurisdictions, concealing the garage can add a density bonus Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Consider a FAR bonus for providing garage wraps to help enrich the city’s urban fabric rather than employing an architectural skin to conceal garage podiums. These podium garage wrap point towers sit nicely on a typical city block and achieve a density of 300 to 350 units per acre.
Caydon’s Drewery Place in Midtown (Above) - Marquette’s Catalyst Houston (Below)
Shown opposite here are Caydon’s Drewery Place in Midtown, Houston (Top), which realizes a density of 350 units per acre, and Marquette’s Catalyst Houston (Bottom), which realizes a density of 300 units per acre.
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Summary ZCA has been fortunate to work with many insightful developers that have allowed us to create beautiful additions to the built environment. ZCA first introduced the point tower to Houston in 2008 with the development of the iconic 2727 Kirby and has now designed 60+ high-rise and midrise urban residential towers.
2727 Kirby
“Today’s lifestyle trends embrace walkable urban-living.” Axel Weisheit, AIA Senior Project Designer Associate Principal | Urban Residential Studio
Check back for the next in our series of essays discussing the point tower typology: “What’s the point?” Upcoming essays in the series: 20.5.3 – Parks, Pocket Parks and Signature Greenspace 20.5.4 – Small Site? No Problem!
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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 Senior Practice Area Leader, Scott plays an active role in shaping the urban landscape through the firm’s built works and his published writing in professional journals on the subjects of sustainable urban growth strategies and high-density mixed-use developments. Ziegler Cooper Architects 700 Louisiana, Ste 350 Houston, TX 77002 t: 713.374.0000 www.zieglercooper.com