2007 MFE Awards
Merit: Best Reuse of Land
The 242-unit ICON in Atlantic Station was built on a strict budget, but you'd never know that to look at the property. Developed by Atlanta-based Lane Co., ICON had a price tag of $31 million. It was designed to appeal to young, hip professionals but also offer affordable rental rates.
ICON sits on just over 3 acres and is part of Atlantic Station, a 138-acre brownfield redevelopment of an abandoned steel mill. As the gateway to the Commons neighborhood, Richmond, Va.-based Poole & Poole Architecture created a plan that implemented New Urbanism and sustainable design principles. The community features townhouse plans, front stoops, and direct street access at the ground level, while upper floors have standard apartment units.
ICON's façade has a modern aesthetic but also gives a nod to Atlanta's rich Art Deco past. Poole & Poole's cost-conscious architecture included an innovative foundation system that saved the project more than $400,000.
Additionally, ICON used alternative materials. Although Lane wanted a brick-and-stucco exterior for the entire 60-foot-tall property, the structural code would not allow for that. The solution? The use of rich chocolate brick at the base of the building with stucco brick above.
ICON offers 13 unique floor plans with an average square footage of 967. Units lease for a monthly average of $1,249. Amenities include a meditation courtyard, Internet café, club room, and plasma screen theater.
