Early in the project, our discussions with AvalonBay focused on how profoundly Redmond is changing. The tech-centered city already had office parks, low-rise, and single-family homes. Designing in accordance with the goals of the Redmond zoning code and the Overlake Village Master Plan, our projects for AvalonBay brings contemporary building character and amenities to this multifamily housing project on the outskirts of Redmond, directly across from Microsoft’s Redmond campus. Avalon Esterra Park includes two seven-story, mixed-use buildings with underground parking for residents and guests. Because these buildings are the gateway to the entire Esterra Park development, both AvalonBay and the city of Redmond knew—as we did—the importance of designing them well, and for a multicultural demographic. Drawing from previous experience with our client, we concepturalized both buildings to feature different styles that still relate to each other through shared references and amenities. Overall, we designed for effortless living, with amenities for socializing, weekend relaxation, family time, fitness, and entertaining. We carefully balanced the two buildings, working closely with AvalonBay to tailor the spaces and amenities to fit multiple lifestyles: the Northern building geared toward families with an area for children to play and the Southern one catering to younger residents with social and fitness spaces. We created two distinct, but complementary, exterior architectural design concepts for each building. One theme recalls a tailored suit: refined, woven, juxtaposing rigid lines, and organic elements. External materials modulate, giving textural and layering interest. Balconies project from all facades and graphically “stitch” the outer shell to the core building. The other concept melds the city’s past and present through a diverse materials palette. A transparent, crafted base represents Redmond’s history while sleek, modern boxes of housing units float above to represent Redmond’s present and future in tech. Together, both buildings forge strong connections to the nearby urban park with a shared courtyard, giving weekend warriors and families opportunities for adventure right outside their door. A testament to successful design, this pair of buildings are among AvalonBay’s best performing in terms of leasability.

Avalon Esterra Park was an opportunity to set the precedent for urban living in the growing suburb of Redmond, Washington. We closely examined the diverse needs, interests, and lifestyles of potential residents to create high quality, aspirational apartments up to the brand standards of our clients, AvalonBay. Designed to make effortless living part of everyday living, our team created a pair of mixed-use apartment buildings with a dynamic, wide-ranging selection of shared amenities. Nonetheless, each building can function independently from the other and intentionally conveys a unique personality. The Northern building is more mature, for professionals or even families with established lifestyles; the units are larger while the social space is smaller. Amenities also include a lobby that people can comfortably work from as well as a children’s playroom. In comparison, the Southern building has a playful energy that invites weekend relaxation and social interaction among residents, with its larger clubroom, fitness area, and pet spa. Keeping these dual characters in mind, our team developed the overarching design concept of undulation, which ties the two buildings together. Sometimes it appears organically and unpredictably, other times, it's repetitive and symmetrical—a modern juxtaposition of rigid lines and organic elements. The timeless, sophisticated style of the Northern building flows into the fresh, approachably refined aesthetics of the Southern building. Together, this pair of apartment buildings offers potential residents of all ages and interests the best of both worlds in one convenient location—they can choose the character of the space that primarily fits their needs and lifestyle, while still being able to easily access and explore the other persona.