A Cheaper Way To Build Density

A new design for mid-rise apartments promises to help make more higher-density projects pencil.

2 minute read

July 23, 2007, 9:00 AM PDT

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


Dallas-based Humphreys & Partners Architects, L.P., has developed a new "e-Urban" design for mid-rise multifamily buildings, which is 20 percent cheaper to develop than conventional construction.

"The new design gets rid of the long, hotel-style hallways that form the backbone of most mid-rise apartment buildings...only 65 percent of the total space in many conventional buildings like these can be sold, rented, or offered to residents as an amenity. The other 35 percent is taken up by hallways, lobbies, and space for boilers and other infrastructure."

"The e-Urban design allows for 87 percent of the space can be rented or sold by effectively trading long hallways for elevators."

"For example, a e-Urban design for a two-acre site would put four elevators into a five-story wood-frame building with 96 apartments. Each elevator would open onto an antechamber ringed with four or five apartment doors on each floor."

"That's a lot of elevators, which can cost as much as $75,000 each to purchase and install...But all this hardware is relatively cheap compared to the cost of building the conventional 10-foot wide corridor connecting all of the apartments on a floor to a single elevator bank."

"The e-Urban design also saves money on the cost of parking...because the e-Urban design squeezes more apartments into a smaller building, the plan for 96 units can find room on its two-acre site for 160 outdoor parking spaces at ground level."

Friday, July 20, 2007 in Apartment Finance Today

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit