Heron in Tampa, Florida. Credit: Kevin Scott
The KPF Principal lent her perspective on the future of multifamily housing for a report as part of the publication’s 2024 Giants feature.
As population demographics, real estate values, and design standards change, housing demand continues to grow in sometimes multifaceted directions. In the Building Design + Construction report, Rebecca says, “we’re seeing pushes on two fronts: for a robust luxury rental product, and for a more ambitious inclusionary/affordable rental product.” This divergent demand reflects the diversity in the development industry, with luxury properties preferred by smaller developers while demand for affordable options is higher in metro areas such as New York City. “These are often some component of a mixed-use development to balance the economics, but we are [also] seeing higher aspirations in terms of design,” she added.
The report cites Heron, the multifamily residential project in Water Street Tampa, the world’s first WELL-certified neighborhood, as evidence that sustainability is also influencing multifamily housing demand. The LEED Gold building incorporates resilience features such as high albedo materials and extensive plantings that mitigate stormwater impacts and the heat island effect.
Learn more by reading the full feature here.