Location: Broomfield, Colo.
Developer: Smith Jones Partners
Builder: Catamount Constructors
Architect: KTGY Group
Opened:June 2013
Number of units:272
Unit mix: Studios to two-bedrooms
Rents: $945 to $1,430
With wide-set units, 10-foot ceilings, and large windows, Arista Uptown Apartments provides residents with lots of light in floor plans kept relatively small for cost-conscious, Gen Y renters.
In Arista, developer Smith Jones Partners updated the typical three-story walk-up and created a strong corner presence to give the structure an urban edge in a semi-urban location. By designing entry stoops for units with ground-floor terraces, architect KTGY took everyday stair elements and enhanced them, engendering a greater sense of community by bringing the building closer to the sidewalk.
“It pushes people outside, so the amenities became that much more valuable,” says Nathan Sciarra, studio director at KTGY. And while the project team hopes Arista will spur further development in the area, it didn’t leave anything to chance and engaged in a little “placemaking” to fill the void.
The $21.2 million development incorporates large areas for socialization, bringing green spaces together in common locations. It also includes a community clubhouse; amenity deck with pool, spa, grills, and cabanas; and a private lawn with an off-leash dog area. The fitness center rivals any gym in the area, while the informal business center offers an “Apple meets Starbucks” feel, since it was designed as more of a lounge than a formal office, Sciarra says.
Although the enhancements were slightly more expensive than usual, the timing was right. “Construction pricing was really hot, so we were able to get upgrades that, today, might not have been able to fit in the budget,” Sciarra says.
