Apartment Living Goes Green

Built in the late 1960s, the four building apartment complex near the University of Arkansas campus in downtown Fayetteville was a testament to its time, complete with dark paneling, shaggy carpeting, closed off rooms and dank kitchens and baths. When new owners purchased the property in 2010, the 96-unit complex was in dire need of an update.

Despite the condition of each apartment, the complex was structurally sound, and the downtown locale offered all the benefits of urban living, with easy access to campus and the Fayetteville trail system, as well as shops and restaurants. “There was tremendous potential here to renovate these units in an economically feasible way and create a healthy, sustainable setting,” says Jeremy Hudson, partner in MC3 Multifamily real estate management and one of the developers of the property. “We saw an opportunity to make this a truly green apartment complex and offer a style of living that didn’t exist here.”

The architectural team at Modus Studio quickly concurred. “The way the complex was built lends itself to being environmentally friendly,” says principal architect Chris Baribeau. “The walls, floors and ceilings are concrete and were still in good shape, and each unit’s basic form is a box-like rectangle. Tearing out all the internal partitions was the first step, allowing access to daylight throughout the apartment and the means of designing a more modern, open way of living.”

Within the blank shell, the architectural team added elements that Baribeau says were geared toward “packing a lot of function into the form,” including an efficient kitchen sleekly tucked along one wall of the open living area. When paired with a multiuse island, the space works as a combined kitchen, living and dining room. An adjacent bedroom area was made more private through the addition of a built-in bookcase that serves as a partial room divider, and a pivoting section of the bookcase was designed to hold a television that can be turned and viewed in either space.

New low-e windows, upgraded insulation, ductless heat and air mini systems, and Energy Star appliances added to the units’ efficiency. Rooftop solar panels power the majority of the units’ hot water needs, while low flow faucets and dual flush toilets reduce water consumption. Sustainable building materials and locally sourced products rounded out the green components of each space.

With nearly half of the 96 apartments complete, the next step in the transformation will be the addition of roof top patios, community courtyards, a saline-treated swimming pool, native plants, a rainwater harvesting system and a green roof, all slated for this summer. “Every design decision has been made with the goal of having a light environmental footprint and consideration for the people who live here,” says Hudson, “which makes us one of the greenest apartment complexes in the country.”

Design Resources

Architect Modus Studio, Fayetteville

Construction manager The H7 Group, Springdale

Developer/property manager MC3 Multifamily, Springdale

General contractor Town Builders, Inc., Fayetteville

Green building consultant, custom woodwork Greenovation Builders, Springdale

Green lifestyle consultant A Splash of Green, Springdale

Countertops 3GD Inc., Rogers

Heat/air systems Kimbel Mechanical Systems, Fayetteville

Plumbing fixtures Plumb Perfect, Springdale

Plumbing systems Ready Rooter, Springdale

Solar energy system Stellar Sun, Little Rock

Tile Emser Tile, North Little Rock

Window shades Accent Blinds & Shutters, Springdale

ECO AWARD

Design elements that helped Eco Modern Flats qualify for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED platinum certification include:

• No-VOC paints: Custom colors from Green Seal-certified YOLO Colorhouse

• Polished concrete floors: Refurbishing the existing floors reduced waste; polishing eliminated the need for chemical treatments

• Operable, low-e windows: Fresh air, natural light and improved efficiency

• Green window shades: Custom roller shades made from Greenguard-certified material control light

• Closed-cell insulation: Locally manufactured, sustainable BioBased Insulation was used in exterior walls to provide a sealed environment that reduces allergens and energy use

• Efficient lighting: Energy Star fixtures use 75 percent less energy than conventional sources

• Concrete countertops: Durable and produced by local artisans

• Locally built cabinets: Environmentally-friendly wood and finish choices

• Locally built furnishings: Custom metalwork with durable finish; custom woodwork coated with no-VOC paint

• Low-flow faucets: Reduces hot water heating and overall water use

• Dual-flush toilets: Existing toilets were upgraded with dual-flush systems

• Porcelain tile: Durable and made from natural materials