The Multiplication of Mixed-Use Developments
Mixed-used developments are all the rage — and CMSWillowbrook is now constructing more than ever before.
Last November, CMSWillowbrook president Weston DeHart took you behind the scenes of West Village, a hot new mixed-use development in downtown Oklahoma City. Now, we’re diving deeper into the world of building overarching spaces where people live, work and play.
What Exactly is a Mixed-Use Development?
A development is considered mixed-use if it is constructed for multiple purposes. West Village, for example, contains apartments, retail spaces, a leasing office, lounge areas, a fitness center, a rooftop pool, a parking garage and even a contemporary art museum. Essentially, mixed-use developments are walkable communities where people can enjoy different activities.
The Popularity of a Multi-Pronged Approach
What exactly led to the explosion of mixed-used developments? Essentially, it all boils down to the re-urbanization of America. Urban populations have been increasing since 2010, when the economy began to recover from the Great Recession. Oklahoma City is no exception — in fact, it might even exemplify this shift. Thirty years ago, the downtown area was a ghost town. Now, you see abandoned warehouses turning into breweries, parks flourishing where there was literally nothing and an influx of young families and new businesses in need of housing and office space. It all generates demand for diverse blocks within the downtown core so there aren’t “islands” with only one use. Because mixed-use developments allow people to live, work and play in a walkable area, they’re extremely attractive and drive economic development.
Exercising Energy Efficiency
Historically, multi-family spaces are terrible energy hogs. At CMSWillowbrook, we care about the environment and being on the forefront of technology. During construction, we properly seal openings to maintain energy efficiency. For example, we always caulk exterior wall plugs and caulk drywall to the framing. This stops cold air from sneaking in during the winter and prevents warm, humid air from seeping in during the summer. We complete each unit by testing the air leakage and making sure the leakage is below minimum energy thresholds. Taking these extra steps helps residents feel more comfortable in the long run and save money on HVAC costs.
A Market Leader for Diverse Properties
CMSWillowbrook is in the pre-construction stage for over 1,500 units of multi-family housing. We’re going to complete hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of mixed-use product in the coming year, and we consider ourselves the market leader in this area. We do things a certain way; we collaborate with stakeholders during the early stages of each project and start constructability reviews and cost estimating from the get-go. This helps eliminate any surprises once construction begins. Our partners appreciate this unique, budget-friendly approach.
Mixed-use and multi-family buildings present unique challenges, but CMSWillowbrook’s experience and dedication to staying up-to-date on industry trends ensure our projects hit the mark.
