Portland, Oregon-based LRS Architects announced that it is nearing completion on the first phase of Alta University Place, a contemporary living experience with elevated style and amenities in University Place, Washington. Alta University Place introduces a residential campus that is integrated with the surrounding community, complete with a new street running through the project that links it with the existing city grid. The taller buildings of the community serve as a “gateway” to the new neighborhood, designed with a public plaza and sculptures to encourage outdoor activity and social connection.
The project comprises nine residential buildings, showcasing several three-story garden apartments accessible from an interior stairwell. It also provides two four-story buildings with elevator access, one of which houses the majority of amenities for the project, including two exercise rooms and a large community room. The Pacific Northwest contemporary design features steep gables and a neutral color palette. Artfully detailed brick masonry is used in key locations to enhance the texture and balance of materiality and depth. Ground-level units include patios, while some upper-level residences offer balconies.
“The architecture is rich and simple, with ample light, and generous windows that activate the street, connecting residents to the neighborhood and contributing to the uniqueness of the community,” explained Julio Rocha, senior associate at LRS Architects. “Garden-style buildings are traditionally open ‘breezeway’ buildings, but we wanted to do a garden project that was more elevated in terms of its design.”
Amenities at Alta University Place include an outdoor swimming pool and sauna, club room, shuffleboard, communal kitchen and dining areas, a coworking lounge, a dog run and a children’s play structure. In addition, material from a former bowling alley that existed on the site is being repurposed for the fitness and yoga studio flooring.
The project includes 274 living units in total. The homes are designed with modern livability in mind, including in-unit work-from-home niches and a coworking lounge. In the common areas, the design references the cross bracing visible on the iconic Tacoma Narrows Bridge, amplifying a unique sense of place. The common area bathrooms feature a tree motif, and if you look closely, an image of Elliott and E.T. flying on their bike—an easter egg from the designers.
A number of references to pop culture and local lore are hidden throughout the space, giving the community amenities a sense of whimsy that invites residents and visitors to look closer.
“According to local legend, a red Giant Pacific Octopus lives beneath the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, so we included a nod to the legend through a large tile mural of an octopus at the pool,” said Kelsey Loverro, an associate and interior designer at LRS Architects. “This ties together the Alta University Place community with local history and folklore.”
LRS is working with client Wood Partners, which is serving as the general contractor. Construction commenced in mid-2022 and is anticipated to be completed this spring.
