The Citizen x

1835 Union Avenue, Memphis TN 38104 United States

Building Area (sf): 315,000 SF

Completion: October 2019

Architect of Record:

LRK

Victor Buchholz (Principal in Charge), Jason Weeks (Project Manager), Greg Morrison, Lisa Law

• Owner/Client:
• General Contractor: Montgomery Martin Contractors
• Electrical: Electrical Consultants: Burns Engineering
  MEP Consultants: Gala Engineering
  Structural Consultants: Chad Stewart & Associates, Inc.
  Interior Designer: Focus Design
  Landscape Architect: Richie Smith Associates
  Civil Engineer: SR Consulting
  
• Engineering:
  
• Other:
  
• Photography:
  1- Nick McGinn. The conversion of a mid-century modern hotel to residential use included a complete building renovation with full-height window walls and ground floor transparency, restoring the building to its original design intent.
  2- Once a part of an iconic brand with local roots, the clarity of the original design is restored. The removal of the misplaced natural stone gave way to a more pedestrian-compatible streetscape.
  3- Nick McGinn. The insertion of plantings and pedestrian access points create a more gracious front entry.
  4- Nick McGinn. The depth and dimensionality of the existing concrete frame was revealed, including a new full height window wall system, incorporating operable windows for natural ventilation.
  5- Nick McGinn. The design responds to the challenge of the existing floor-to-ceiling windows that create expansive full-height views to compensate for the tight constraints. Exposed HVAC and electrical systems minimize ceiling furdowns
  6- Nick McGinn. The existing pool deck was above the two-level, below-grade parking basement that could not be heavily modified. The pool was restored to recapture the clean lines of mid-century aesthetic.
  7- Nick McGinn. The building has been enhanced to better reflect the clarity of classic mid-century modern lines, including a geometric window wall at the upper floors, a floating ground floor base, and pedestrian connectivity to the street.
  
  

The project restores and draws upon the clean lines of an existing mid-century modern structure to create a crisp and expressive composition and iconic identity for a new mixed-use development.

Though it is a complex exercise in adaptive reuse and urban design, the project presents itself in a clear and ordered manner, reflective of the existing building’s impressive structure. Originally constructed as a part of an internationally recognizable hotel chain with local roots, the structure is as efficient as it is iconic. Due to damage from sitting vacant for nearly a decade and low floor-to-floor heights, initial plans called for the existing building to be razed. Seeing merit in the historic structure, the design team developed plans for efficient and organized units, successfully advocating for its reuse.

To meet the challenge of the existing building’s low floor to floor heights, the concrete structure was left open, exposed MEP systems were used to maintain vertical ceiling height, and new floor to ceiling windows were utilized to offset the low clearance and create a sense of expansive views from the residences.

An existing two-level below grade basement parking structure has a footprint that extends over the entire site area, limiting site and grading design options. Garage car and pedestrian access was improved to provide for new pedestrian access from the public street to the building entry. The garage structure was stabilized, and new elevators and stair circulation provide direct secure access from the garage floors into each floor of the tower. Also sitting over the basement garage, the existing hotel pool, with its classic mid-century vibe was restored at the ground- floor plaza.

Throughout the interior and exterior of the existing building, the elegant concrete structure is allowed to speak with clarity. A new simplified color palette grounds the structure and allows its subtle detailing to take center stage as sunlight creates a dynamic play of light and shadow throughout the day.

A wonderful example of a classic mid-century modern jewel saved from the wrecking ball, polished, and upgraded for its second life.