MG2 Associate Principal Felipe Romero accepted his ICSC+CENTERBUILD Leaders Under 40 Class of 2024 award at Centerbuild this week.
With over a decade of experience, Felipe has developed thoughtful, community-centered environments. Recognizing the critical role retail plays in both the economy and local communities, he has dedicated his career to designing these vital spaces.
MG2 Principal Jooyeol Oh spoke with Diana Mosher from the Commercial Property Executive about building conversions.
“When I think about flexible design, the word that comes to me is ‘resilience,'” said Jooyeol Oh in the piece. He continued, “Flexible design is a challenge, but it’s a challenge that we always think about.”
MG2’s 6 Corners Lofts project, a 1938 Sears building adapted into an innovative mixed-use community, is an example of that flexible design brought into practice. Original elements, like flared capital columns and terrazzo flooring, were preserved while the building was updated to bring modern amenities to residents.
MG2 Principal and design lead of 6 Corners Lofts Jooyeol Oh spoke with Multi-Housing News Associate Editor Madalina Pojoga about the adaptive-reuse process at the Sears building and the impact 6 Corners Lofts will have on the city’s Portage Park area.
“The Six Corners Shopping District has a long history as a popular and successful neighborhood shopping and entertainment destination serving the community. Preserving the character of one of its most beloved landmarks was a crucial consideration for us.
“There were three main design elements we wanted to highlight: the vernacular architecture of the surrounding brick buildings, the juxtaposition of old and new, and a celebration of the Art Deco style.”
MG2 ranked among the top 20 in Building Design+Construction Media’s recently released Top 200 Architecture Firms for 2024.
Lead designer and MG2 principal Jooyeol Oh talked with C+CT contributing editor Joel Groover about 6 Corners Lofts, a transformed historic Chicago Sears building that is now a mixed-use development.
MG2’s Community Environments team carefully preserved the building’s art deco character while introducing contemporary elements like floor-to-ceiling windows and a new top floor with luxury amenities.
“We punched floor-to-ceiling windows and added balconies and terraces. This allowed us to modernize the old Sears retail store and warehouse to a residential use while preserving its art deco character. To expand the number of residential units, we added a whole new 31-unit wing that complements the look and feel of its counterpart.”
After serving 80 years as a retail space, 6 Corners Lofts is revitalizing the Chicago area as an adaptive reuse, mixed-use development.
Mountlake Village is a mixed-use development that meets the needs of a diverse, active, and growing population. The development includes residential and retail space to invite the community in. Amenities include a coworking space, a ground-floor plaza, resident lounges, a gym, a yoga studio, a dog grooming facility, a dog run, and a rooftop terrace.
Located within the master planned Barkley Village development, The Manning is a new 171-unit residential complex. The building includes a gym amenity space and a large commercial space on the ground floor. Building on the master plan’s goals for a true urban village, the development seeks to draw in the community and add vibrancy to the area. Residents have direct access to dining, shopping, and entertainment options from a farmer’s market to a movie theater.
Beltline is a vibrant neighborhood comprised of rich history, modern luxury, and a spirited community with a personality all its own. The development holistically reflects and celebrates the historical character of the district while weaving in modern sophistication. Beltline Block includes a multi-phase mix of residential and commercial uses including four towers, each delivered in a separate phase.
Flatiron Crossing is undergoing a transformation into a thriving outdoor park experience with the intent to highlight the Flatiron Mountain namesake. A mix of uses will include residential, F&B, entertainment, and future office all within a 9-acre nature park space. The architecture blends seamlessly with the park to create a truly integrated experience. Macerich’s commitment to sustainability is showcased with the use of mass timber and CLT in one of the signature buildings.
Architects Brian Bennett and Jim Walker join MG2 as Principals
SEATTLE, WA—May 15, 2024—Global architecture and design firm MG2 has announced its acquisition of the Portland, Oregon-based firm Studio C Architecture. Studio C is known for its work in multifamily residential design and has specialized in affordable housing. Now backed by the additional resources that a large firm provides, the office will have the capacity and reach to do more than they could have in the past. For Principals Brian Bennett AIA, NCARB, LEED AP and Jim Walker AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, this new alignment is a coming home of sorts, as both principals grew their careers at MG2.
“We are excited to welcome Jim and Brian to MG2,” says Mitch Smith, MG2 CEO and Chairman of the Board. “Their strength in project design, understanding of building systems and experience in complex problem-solving will be invaluable. Their expertise, combined with their passion for affordable housing, is a perfect complement to our firm.”
Jim founded Studio C Architecture in 2007 with the vision that all projects are a reflection of the aspirations of the community in which they are built. Brian joined the firm in 2012 and together they have focused on the residential market with particular expertise in affordable housing. Recent projects include award-winning Deskins Commons in Newberg, OR, Deer Creek Village in Roseburg, OR, and Summit Gardens in Medford, OR, which is now under construction. Their passion for affordable housing stems from their understanding of the profound need and transformative impact that stable housing can bring to families, and both have been active in Habitat for Humanity.
“By joining MG2, we have the opportunity to do more, for more people, and in a shorter period of time,” says Jim. “This has always been my vision and my goal—to serve the community and provide affordable housing to people in need.”
“We are excited to work with a firm—that we know first-hand from past experience—has the design skills, abilities and expertise of MG2 as well as a devotion to engaging with the community and making an impact,” says Brian.
With 30+ years in architecture, Jim’s strength in project and team leadership is grounded in collaboration, diversity of thought, and a genuine curiosity for innovative problem-solving approaches. Jim’s mission of providing quality affordable housing has been a driving force, stemming from a profound recognition of the critical need and the societal issues it impacts. Jim sits on the Board of Directors for Portland’s historic Hollywood Theatre. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from North Dakota State University.
Throughout his career, Brian has worked on a wide array of projects, ranging from small retail tenant improvements to large high-rise residential developments. This breadth of experience has provided him with direct exposure to the unique technical demands of various building structural types and building systems. Brian earned a Bachelor of Architectural Studies from the University of Washington and a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon.
The Studio C office in Portland will become MG2’s seventh location after Seattle, New York, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Irvine, and Shanghai.
ABOUT MG2
Guided by our vision to create transformative experiences that foster and elevate healthy communities, MG2 has been delivering award-winning projects and programs for over 50 years. We partner with some of the world’s most recognizable companies and brands to bring exceptional design solutions to life through full architectural, strategic planning, cost management, interior design, brand strategy, and program consulting services. Our seven offices in the U.S. and China—Seattle, Portland, New York, Washington D.C., Minneapolis, Irvine, and Shanghai—integrate building performance and social responsibility into every project. At MG2, our greatest strength lies in our people, our clients, and our commitment to helping them succeed. We are purpose-driven by nature, data-driven by design. www.mg2.com
MG2 is proud to share our inaugural Sustainability Impact Report for 2023. This annual report will measure our progress year-over-year towards meeting the AIA 2030 Commitment to reach towards carbon neutrality by 2030. Taking this step helps us reach our goal of transparency and accountability to our clients, our industry, and the communities where we live and work. This report demonstrates our progress in design and project work and also calculates our corporate carbon emissions.
While sustainability has long been part of the MG2 ethos, we formalized our position in 2020 by joining the AIA 2030 Commitment and publishing our first Sustainability Action Plan. With this 2023 Sustainability Impact Report, we’ve taken the opportunity to refine our plan and take advantage of new tools and processes. As part of that plan, we have established four goals as a firm:
With a focus on building performance, we aim to reduce the amount of energy needed to operate buildings. In new construction, this involves building heating and cooling, lighting, plug loads, etc. For retail tenant improvements (TI), we primarily focus on the lighting power density which calculates the light output per square foot.
This goal represents all the building materials required for new construction or retail TI. Each material has an associated Global Warming Potential (GWP) number which considers the material’s extraction from the earth, manufacturing process, transportation to the building site, and building construction, called “cradle to gate.” We calculate the material quantities in the building (typically from a Revit model) and apply a GWP number to those quantities to determine the metric tons of CO2 a building uses. Reducing this number requires higher efficiencies in our designs and our materials.
Many material manufacturers provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for their products. This goal emphasizes the importance of collecting EPDs when we procure or specify materials. In addition to the AIA 2030 Commitment, we are proud signatories of the AIA Materials Pledge. Our job as designers is to bring a deeper awareness of the material makeup and offer our clients “good, better, and best” choices when selecting materials.
Water is one of our most precious resources. We calculate and track water usage for irrigation as well as indoor water use. No matter where you live, water is becoming a scarce resource, and as designers we are responsible for implementing innovative solutions.
You can’t improve what you don’t measure, and as a firm we always challenge ourselves to do better. We are constantly tracking data for the above goals during each design phase of a project, from Concept Development through Construction Documentation. Each design team is responsible for collecting and evaluating data during the design process and looking for ways to improve efficiencies.
MG2 invites you to check out our 2023 Sustainability Impact Report and check back each year to see our progress. Enter your name and contact information below to gain access, then click on the report to read full-screen.
This eight-story podium apartment building is located in the heart of Redmond’s Overlake neighborhood and is within walking distance of the new light rail station. The design team’s goal was to add to the richness of the community while positively impacting the nearby businesses and contribute to the area’s vibrant cultural diversity. The design emphasizes sustainability, community impact, and efficient design.
Located in Seattle’s premier neighborhood of Capitol Hill, 1661 Olive Way promises to elevate the community’s unique character. The neighborhood’s restaurants, bars, small businesses, and civic history create a vibrant pedestrian experience that this new mixed-use development will enhance. The resulting mixed-use residential building will comprise retail on the ground floor, 170 residential units above, and amenity areas, including exercise, resident lounge, and rooftop.
First Light综合体项目位于西雅图市中心，建筑共47层，当前还在开发阶段。项目业态涵盖临街零售，包括3间餐厅和1个咖啡馆；大楼顶部设有6层办公空间，另有38层为住宅公寓。
MG2与温哥华设计师James KM Cheng合作，共同实现了First Light的项目愿景，同时又考虑了当地上班族和城市居民的经济承受能力。该项目还设计有一个封闭的温室式屋顶花园，可尽享俯瞰全景，此外，还配备有游泳池和休息区。2楼至7楼的外墙还有出自当地艺术家James Holden手笔的大型艺术装置。建成后，此座高层建筑将为所在城市不断发展城区中心廊道增添又一道美丽风景，同时提升功能性。
100 & Main is a collection of ten premier residential units combining classic luxury with modern architecture. Designed as a “Swiss watch built on a postage stamp,” the building, which balances making a statement with sitting lightly on a busy pedestrian-friendly corner, proved deceptively challenging. By artfully addressing a steep slope and condensed lot size with architectural detailing, 100 & Main is a unique treasure in Old Bellevue.
100 & Main was honored with NAIOP’s Night of the Stars Multi-Family Residential Development of the Year Award.
It’s no secret that with each passing year, cities in the United States become more and more populated. By July 1st, 2022, usapopulation.org estimates that New York City will reach 8.865 million residents. With this rise in density comes numerous development challenges. Among them: abundant, accessible multi-family housing for individuals and families, and last-mile distribution solutions for companies servicing urban neighborhoods and their surrounding areas.
When it comes to the development of both multi-family housing 和 commercial properties like warehouses or distribution centers, particularly in metropolitan environments, each presents its own series of challenges and hurdles. Most prevalently, however, is space. As cities continue to grow, the harder it’s becoming for developers to find real estate for either venture, and the more expensive it’s becoming to bring these theoretically single-use structures to life.
But what if, in cities like New York, we could solve both challenges at once? What if we could optimize footprints vertically to—proverbially—kill two birds with one stone? Is it feasible to design and build a solution that houses both residential tenants 和 the complex operations of a last-mile distribution center, one that allows them to co-exist in the same building in harmony, without the two worlds interfering with or disturbing one another?
Overseas, these concepts are already becoming a reality. Well-versed in the intricacies of both markets, designers in MG2’s Shanghai office have been working on hybrid-use, single footprint solutions in Korea’s rapidly growing cities for years. From Gocheok, to Pyeongtaek, to Jichuk, warehouse facilities in Asia have been designed to co-exist in harmony with both residential and office towers that rise above. With these complex projects, however, comes a series of considerations that span design, operations, logistics, local government regulations, and perhaps most intricately, structural challenges.
So what do those considerations look like for us in urban sprawls like the Tri-State area, and more importantly, is it possible to overcome them and create our own single-footprint solutions for multi-family housing and last-mile distribution?
As with all good projects, acceptance and approval from all concerned parties are critical to the success of any real estate venture. For a mixed-use urban building that houses both multi-family residences and a last-mile distribution center or warehouse space, stakeholders can include city governments, jurisdictions, developers, commercial tenants, and representatives of the local community.
Pushback from neighborhood residents and city entities over concerns of traffic, noise, and potentially a loss of tax dollars are becoming more prevalent, while simultaneously viewing the potential plus of an “increase in jobs” as perhaps not the “right kind” of local jobs for their district.
Developers or commercial tenants who don’t want to have to worry about the complexities that arise from sensitivities, restrictions, or even potential violations that might occur from being in such close proximity to residential inhabitants may see these cons outweighing the pros, and want to avoid the venture altogether.
It sounds like an uphill battle to be sure, but the secret to success with this concern is a multi-faceted understanding of each stakeholder’s individual concerns, objectives, goals, and desires, as well as the design and logistics intricacies of each market. With this expertise leading the way, each piece of the puzzle is heard, understood, addressed, and solved for in the final product.
While human-centered conversations with those involved in and affected by this unique type of development are a necessary first step, investments in sustainability can also play a role in helping sway the tides of stakeholder buy-in. With many developers today pursuing LEED certification for all of their projects, the additional integration of EV capabilities into commercial facilities, as well as other sustainable initiatives that benefit cities, companies, and communities alike, can play a huge role in shifting the viewpoints of those involved.
With two building systems living on the same footprint, there are dozens of operations and logistics factors that need to be taken into account for both, particularly in an urban environment. Last-mile distribution facilities can often operate around the clock, and the noise that stems from the warehouse itself, as well as the receiving bays of a 24-hour operation, has the potential to be a major disruptor to the lives of those above.
Harmonization of the vertical transportation and traffic flow of delivery trucks and facility employees with residents’ vehicles in what might be a complex, multi-tiered parking system is paramount. Additional considerations for both warehouse staff and residential tenants include safety, security, privacy, lobby areas, access to street frontage, and more.
For these two ventures to co-exist and operate in harmony within the same building, intimate expertise is required in not only the daily logistics and flow of commercial facilities and multi-family housing, but also in the built asset management required for the optimization of operational upkeep for each typology, and where these two programs will differ and overlap.
Furthering the operational hurdles that accompany this new mixed-use typology are, of course, the configuration challenges behind designing and constructing two different building systems into one structure.
In addition to considerations like the optimization of the transfer slab for the grids of commercial, parking, and residential, the mix of uses and separations as well as strict regulations from the city for each typology need to be clarified and implemented. For example, the ordinances for elements such as emergency evacuation routes, fire separations, and sprinkler systems for multi-family housing differ from those in commercial facilities, but with each of these typologies living on the same footprint, mandates for both need to be factored in the structure’s design.
While tackling mixed-use projects like these in Korea, designers have noted that, with residential above, the column spacing and layout of the last-mile delivery warehouse floor are affected. This, in turn, affects components such as the size and shape of these columns, the location and height of industrial steel racks, and the space required for forklift and personnel maneuverability and traffic optimization.
As urban areas become denser, demand for housing and last-mile delivery solutions will continue to rise. These examples are just a handful of the dozens if not hundreds of challenges that require experienced consideration to design and build successful mixed-use solutions that house both multi-family residential 和 commercial last-mile warehousing facilities within the same footprint.
By employing cross-market expertise and designing solutions for both typologies in tandem, developers have the opportunity to bring to life these new, highly desirable mixed-use building types in urban settings. Making this concept a reality in a metropolis like 纽约 or its surrounding areas is not only possible, but practical for the future of companies, cities, and urban communities alike.
Named after the adjacent waterway that forms the site’s southern boundary, Deer Creek Village serves Roseburg’s special-needs populations and veterans with PTSD. The development was carefully positioned to take into account the wetland area that covers a significant portion of the site. The building is organized around a central courtyard that overlooks the adjacent wetlands and woodlands abutting Deer Creek. Resident amenities include a bicycle storage room, a central laundry, an outdoor play area for both youth and adults, and a spacious community room with associated kitchen.
This garden-style development includes seven new wood-framed buildings organized around an existing historic house. The team managed the Historic Rehabilitation and the Historic Resources Design Review Process necessary for the renovation of the structure. Additionally, the preservation of Oregon White Oak trees creates a sense of permanence and naturally integrates the buildings into the neighborhood. An extensive on-site stormwater management system was designed to mitigate poor soil infiltration conditions. The team also prepared design documents in support of the funding application to Oregon Housing Community Services, helping to secure the award of tax credits.
The Independence Apartments completes the second phase of Independence Landing, a multi-phased redevelopment in downtown Independence. The development includes two buildings with 110 market rate units and fourteen townhomes. The townhomes along Osprey Lane create an urban edge facing the historic downtown. With expansive views of the Willamette River, the apartment complex includes a clubhouse with an outdoor pool and spa, a community room with kitchen and lounge, and a fitness center with locker rooms.
As part of this multi-phased redevelopment project, The Jesse Quinn includes a mix of loft and live/work units. To activate the street frontage, building amenities, retail, and the live/work units are located on the first floor. One wing of the T-shaped building is slightly recessed from the street creating an urban pedestrian plaza adjacent to a rain garden. The exterior materials complement the historic nature of downtown. Amenities include a fitness room, a bike storage, on-site leasing offices, and a garden area with a play structure. A community room with a spacious outdoor deck is located on the top floor of the building to take advantage of expansive views.
Soaring rents across the country have kept the outlook for multifamily owners bright, but they could soon become a double-edged sword as politicians sharpen their focus on housing affordability and are increasingly proposing regulations that would cap rent growth.
This article was produced for and originally published by Bisnow.
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There’s a growing movement to change the way American communities are designed that places a greater focus on the well-being of residents. At the heart of these new communities is one thing: accessibility.
Sometimes called the 15-minute city, the design goal for these neighborhoods is to have all the necessities a person could need — from groceries to medical attention — within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their home. According to a 2019 report titled Foot Traffic Ahead from Smart Growth America, these types of walkable developments lead to improved social mobility, economic growth, and several other factors in residents’ lives.
The team at Seattle-based architecture, design, strategy, and branding firm MG2 believes strongly in the potential of walkable developments, which is why they are focused on designing what they call healthy communities.
“Our focus goes beyond the traditional ‘live-work-play’ tenets of mixed-use developments,” MG2 principal 本吉斯 said. “We also take into account what we feel are the vital principles of ‘nourish, move and learn.’ We’re combining all of our expertise in designing everything from grocery stores to healthcare clinics to create one cohesive, walkable, healthy community.”
Gist said that for MG2, some of the key components of a healthy community include easy access to grocery stores, daycare centers, office space, healthcare facilities, parks, and mixed-income housing. The firm has spent the last few years focusing on how to take its architects’ varied experience in designing a variety of retail spaces and pivoting that toward transforming underused retail sites — like malls — into dynamic neighborhoods.
One of its most recent projects is located in Kirkland, Washington, a suburb east of Seattle. Here, MG2 and its partner Madison Development Group have taken the site of a former strip mall and are redesigning it into a 1.35M SF development called 玫瑰山. This new community, located right off the 405, will feature four mixed-use apartment/retail buildings. Each is designed with a different demographic in mind, radiating its own personality inside and out while still speaking the same design language.
Along with just over 800 apartment units, these buildings will feature retail components including a healthcare facility and a daycare center. There will also be workspaces, an outdoor party deck, and several other amenities open to all residents.
“We’ve distributed the amenities throughout the project, enticing residents to explore and get to know buildings beyond their own,” Gist said. “We’re trying to encourage a sense of community, curiosity, and movement throughout the site.”
On-premise, residents will find a 40K SF full-service grocery store, as well as a Costco just across from the site. This is especially appropriate since MG2 has designed hundreds of Costcos across the globe. Further setting the stage for the walkable community, Google finalized a purchase agreement for the nearby Lee Johnson car dealership in November, with plans to use the site to expand its Seattle footprint with new physical offices.
Gist said that up until this point, most American communities were designed with vehicles in mind. In contrast, Rose Hill is focused on creating accessible, well-lit, and artfully landscaped pedestrian walkways that make it easy for residents to walk to any building in the development. Even the main parking garage features plants and natural lighting through skylight-esque openings as it leads residents and visitors directly into the grocery store entrance.
Construction on the development is expected to begin this spring.
“玫瑰山 isn’t just for the people who will live within a 15-minute walk from its buildings,” Gist said. MG2 envisions that it will be a hub for the entire Kirkland community, which at this time mostly comprises strip malls, parking lots, low-rise buildings, and single-family neighborhoods.
He added that the nature of retail is changing, shifting the formula for malls across America. Traditional anchors with smaller shops in between no longer address consumers’ current needs, and have accelerated mall closures across the country.
“This is why we’re taking a new approach to retail development, starting with asking the question ‘How can retail encompass a community, not just retail opportunities?’” he said. “This effectively shifts us from developing ‘places to shop’ to designing sought-after destinations that feel like home.”
Reach out to Ben Gist to learn more about 玫瑰山 & the team behind the healthy community design.
999 Hiawatha is a three-story, multi-family apartment complex located in an urban enclave of downtown Seattle. Hiawatha’s 20 floor plans offer residents a variety of housing needs, and the development includes in-building parking, electronic car charging stations, and ample bicycle storage to promote a new model of healthy urban living. The design maximized the site’s potential with the addition of two landscaped rooftop terraces, featuring breathtaking views of both the downtown Seattle skyline and Mt. Rainier.
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