CASE STUDY / 4TH WEST APARTMENTS
Bringing Upscale Living to a Ripening Downtown
How a savvy developer capitalized on rooftop amenities to bring success to a pioneering Salt Lake City project.
Results
- 4th West Apartments set a new standard with its game-changing rooftop amenity deck, the Skylounge.
- In 2017, Skylounge helped earn 4th West the award for “Most Outstanding Multi-Family Project” from Utah Construction & Design
- 4th West was recognized as the 2018 Development of the Year by the Utah CCIM chapter.
- In 2019 the Skylounge rooftop received a Merit Award from American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in the Residential category.
- While charging some of the highest rent per square foot in the city, 4th West maintains healthy occupancy rates of over 92%.
- Selling within two years of completion, the property became the largest total dollar single asset sale in Utah’s history at that time.
- Numerous online reviewers mention the rooftop and amenities as a key reason they chose to live at 4th West and why they are pleased. Social Media posts highlight the Skylounge as the main feature of the property.
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Introducing Luxury Downtown Living to Salt Lake City
Before 4th West, there was a substantial luxury housing gap in Salt Lake City’s downtown area even while a booming economy was attracting many people to relocate from out of state. Many of these newcomers found themselves living in apartments lacking the features and amenities they had hoped for.
Salt Development capitalized on the opportunity to offer a product to meet this previously unmet demand for upscale downtown living options. Richard Lamprecht of Salt Development explained, “The millennial generation wants to have places to congregate, wants to have places to feel good about where they live and we just didn’t find that, especially in downtown. It was very cookie cutter. So we thought, let’s bring upscale apartment living to those that want to live downtown.”
Salt Development’s plan was ambitious. 4th West would be located one block north of the struggling Gateway Mall in a part of the city with an undesirable reputation. They needed to turn a vacant block of dilapidated buildings across the street from West High School into 500 luxury apartment units. Furthermore, the ground floor would provide retail space including a grocery store to alleviate a long-time food desert.
Loft Six Four collaborated with Architecture Belgique to help the developer make plans for much-needed, high-level outdoor amenities. The most noteworthy of which would become Skylounge, a game-changing rooftop amenity deck, outfitted to offset the perception of the neighborhood and highlight the proximity to downtown.
“Loft Six Four was pivotal in the success of 4th West Apartments rooftop amenities and courtyard design. It was important for us as the architect lead to have a landscape architect that was innovative, extremely responsive, and communicated well with our design and development team. They always met deadlines and worked tirelessly to ensure that our developer clients were excited about the rooftop and outdoor living spaces.”
Guillaume Belgique / Architecture Belgique Inc.
Designing for People
Understanding what tenants want from a luxury apartment is key to our process. We matched the goals of the developer and the desires of their target demographic (20-30 year old professionals working in the city) with the right amenities to make the project as attractive as possible to this demographic.
Skylounge included never-before-seen features for Salt Lake City. These included an entire acre of usable outdoor and indoor rooftop space complete with an olympic-sized swimming pool. We were mindful in our approach to each space in order to accommodate a wide range of activities — from small group hangouts to community pool parties.
PRAISE FOR 4TH WEST APARTMENTS
Reactions from 4th West Apartments residents demonstrate the impact Skylounge has had on the success of the project:
“The rooftop is second to none! Great job on that, everyone is absolutely obsessed with it.”
– Andrew G.
“It’s quality living. It’s an out of state feel because it’s so spectacular. I want to live here forever.”
– Robby M.
“I am a frequent national and international traveler and have stayed at hotels all over the world. This complex is on par with a first class luxury hotel. Great amenities, great and friendly staff. It is built like a luxury hotel. Rent is quite reasonable. Highest recommendation.”
– Gavin W.
“I love living at 4th West. The building, location, and amenities are beyond compare. I believe 4th West is setting the new standard for apartment lifestyle in Salt Lake City.”
– Shanna N.
Lofty Goals Require Steady Follow-Through
To create such an unprecedented luxury space in downtown Salt Lake City, Loft Six Four collaborated with Architecture Belgique to achieve a previously unseen a level of detail. Our team reviewed submittals from the contractor for several custom elements that we designed to make the project second to none. The attention and care we put into this project are evident in its first class luxury resort feel.
The unique feeling one experiences when they walk through the Skylounge is what captivates potential tenants and convinces them to make 4th West their home.