News

Memphis Business Journal - The Citizen, the long awaited redevelopment at the corner of Union Avenue and McLean Boulevard, will welcome its first residents over the weekend. Construction on an adjacent mixed-use building is anticipated to be complete in July. LRK provided architectural services for the project. Read more.

Houston Business Journal – Construction is underway on the first luxury apartments to be located within northeast Houston’s new 4,000-acre neighborhood, Generation Park. Called 255 Assay Street, the 251-unit apartments are situated within Redemption Square, the community’s 52-acre mixed-use district. Units will range in size from a 600-square-foot studio to a three-bedroom penthouse of 2,651 square feet, and the apartments will also feature 17,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. Completion is expected at the end of 2019. LRK is the design architect. Read more.

ArchDaily - The Crosstown Concourse redevelopment was recently featured in ArchDaily. Read more.

Memphis Business Journal - The Memphis Business Journal has announced that Crosstown Concourse is this year's  Project of the Year. The project - and the people whose hard work made it possible - will be honored at the Building Memphis awards ceremony February 27th at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. LRK is proud to have been a part of the project team! Read more.

The Commercial Appeal  - Crosstown Concourse, Memphis’ 1.5-million square foot historic distribution center-turned-vertical urban village, has been awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification for its historic rehab and adaptive reuse of the Sears Crosstown building. Crosstown Concourse’s size and scope affirm the title as the largest historic adaptive reuse LEED Building Design + Construction Platinum project in the world. Read more.

Memphis Business Journal - A formerly blighted corner at Union Avenue and McLean Boulevard is undergoing a transformation to become home to a mix of apartments, restaurants, and retail. The $33.5 million project, known as The Citizen, marks the first construction of new apartments in Midtown in more than 15 years. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday. LRK is providing architectural services. Read more.

What Now Atlanta - Construction has started on Aria Village, a 30,000-square-foot mixed-use development in Sandy Springs. The project will feature retail and restaurants, along with five-story apartments. The community will have access to nearby hiking trails and offer an impressive amenity package, including a luxurious pool deck, co-working spaces, dog wash, and two-story fitness facility. The first apartment homes should be available in fall 2019. Read more.

The Daily News - Plans to breathe new life into the former Wonder Bread factory include 286 upscale multifamily units, a 480-space parking garage, and 150,000 square feet of office and retail space. This project will serve as a catalyst in the continuing revitalization of The Edge District, helping to further connect Downtown with the Medical District. LRK is providing planning and architectural services for the project. Read more.

Multi-Housing News - The Michael at Presidio comes in at #2 on the list of Austin's Top 10 Largest Communities Under Development. LRK provided master planning services for the 120-acre mixed-use village and architecture services for the 415-unit apartment community. Read more. 

Dallas News - The Epic project, a mixed-use development on the eastern edge of downtown Dallas, is underway in the Deep Ellum neighborhood. LRK, along with 5G Studio Collaborative, designed the 20-story, 300-unit apartment tower in the development for StreetLights Residential. Other uses in the project include an office tower, retail, and a botique hotel. Read more.  

Commercial Appeal - Construction work on the 91-year-old Hickman Building in Downtown Memphis will begin this summer. Vacant for nearly 50 years, the 100,000 square-foot building will house offices, apartments, and retail. LRK is providing architectural and interior design services for the renovation. 

"We have worked very hard to maintain the character and integrity of the property while also adapting it to modern uses," LRK's Frank Ricks said. Read more. 

The Commercial Appeal – With the goal of energizing the emerging South Main Historic Arts District, the renovation of the 107-year-old United Warehouse building will begin in late September. Artspace South Main Lofts will include 58 affordable live/work units for artists and their families, community/gallery space, and an outdoor garden. LRK is providing architectural design and historic rehabilitation services for the project. Read more.   

The winners of the 2016 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards were announced on Friday by Governor Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau and Jackson Walk was one of eleven recipients. The awards recognize voluntary actions (not required by law or regulation) that improve or protect the environment or natural resources. The winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Nashville on June 15th. LRK provided planning, architecture and interior design services for Jackson Walk. Read more.

BOMA Magazine – Featured in the January/February edition of BOMA Magazine, Crosstown Concourse is the latest high-profile adaptive reuse project to transform an old Sears distribution center, joining the ranks of Boston's Landmark Center, Midtown Exchange in Minneapolis, and Ponce City Market in Atlanta. Crosstown already has leasing commitments of 450,000 square feet from healthcare, education, and arts organizations. It will also feature 65,000 square feet of retail and 270 apartments. The mix of tenants was crucial to achieve the sense of community the developers desired.

The Architect's Newspaper - This national publication offers a glimpse into Memphis' urban resurgence and mentions multiple LRK-designed projects, such as Crosstown Concourse, Central Station, Hotel Chisca, Tennessee Brewery, and Overton Square. Read more.

Memphis Business Journal - In 2003 an F-4 tornado devastated much of downtown Jackson, Tennessee. Along with the destruction, it provided Jackson with a blank slate and a unique opportunity to improve their community. Jackson Walk, a 17-acre, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, is the centerpiece of the city’s redevelopment initiative. LRK provided overall planning services to the City of Jackson following the tornado. They also provided planning services for the Jackson Walk development and architecture/interior design services for the LIFT Wellness Center. Read more.

This video provides a fascinating glimpse at the enormity of the Crosstown Concourse project and the transformation that is being made as construction progresses.  

Professional Builder Magazine - The November cover story, "Mixed Use Revitalizes Urban Areas," shows examples of revitalization around the country, including LRK project Eddy Street Commons, at the gateway to the University of Notre Dame. LRK principals, Victor Buchholz and Frank Ricks, explain more about the design approach in this article. Read more.

Modern Homebuilder - This article features LRK-designed projects, Baldwin Harbor and Tate, and quotes from Mike Sullivan about LRK’s collaboration with ZOM Living to design great urban multifamily communities that will stand the test of time.  Read more.

Memphis Daily News - New owners, Walk-Off Properties LLC, have purchased the long-vacant building on the corner of Madison and N. Fourth Street for a mixed-use redevelopment. In the article, LRK principals, Rob Norcross and Frank Ricks, talk about the plans for redeveloping the Hickman Building and adjacent garage. Ground floor retail, office, and residential is currently being studied as the mix of building uses. Read more.

The Daily News - Mixed-use projects are becoming more popular than ever in Memphis as millennials are leading a drive to return to the urban core. With an eye towards sustainability, previously disregarded neighborhoods are being developed into more livable pedestrian-friendly communities and adaptive reuse is on the rise. This article lists over eight notable mixed-use projects designed by LRK as successful examples. Read more.

The Commercial Appeal - Crosstown Concourse's financing has won an award from the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits. The award was based on the scale and complexity of the financial package, as well as the project's substantial community impact. Read more.

The Jackson Sun -The City of Jackson has received a National Award for Smart Growth Achievement for Jackson Walk. The award, given by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was one of three given nationally out of 48 applications from 19 states. Jackson is the first and only Tennessee city to ever receive the award.

EPA’s 2015 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement: Jackson Walk, Jackson, Tennessee YouTube Video

Memphis Business Journal - A groundbreaking party and community rally is planned for Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to kickstart the rebrand of the once abandoned Sears Crosstown building. Read more.

Memphis Business Journal - This article takes a look inside Sears Crosstown as the demolition begins.  Read more.

High Ground – Frank Ricks is interviewed in this article that focuses on the growing trend of mixed-use development in Memphis. LRK projects, such as Crosstown, Harbor Town, and Overton Square, are featured. Read more.

Jackson Walk received an Outstanding Planning Award for Implementation from the American Planning Association, Tennessee Chapter. The award was presented at a luncheon that was held on August 28, 2014 in conjunction with the Tennessee APA's annual conference in Nashville.

The Jackson Housing Authority in Jackson, TN, was awarded $190,330 by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to build additional housing in the LRK-designed Jackson Walk development. Hal Crocker, Jackson Walk developer and a partner in Healthy Community LLC who will lead the new housing development, indicated that they will be focusing on smaller homes in a target redevelopment area that is part of Jackson Walk. Read more...

In recognition of Jackson's efforts in building wellness into the very fabric of the community, the city was recognized with a 2014 Achievement Award for Excellence in Community Wellness during the Tennessee Municipal League’s 75th Annual Conference in Chattanooga on June 24, 2014. Jackson Walk and the LiFT Wellness Center were seen as significant contributors in a community-wide health and wellness initiative.  

The Commercial Appeal - The contractor has pulled the first permits for the $180 million redevelopment of Sears Crosstown. Read more.

Builder – Perkins Lane, a mixed-use infill development in the heart of Baton Rouge just minutes away from Louisiana State University, was designed with open floor plans that maximize indoor/outdoor relationships and feature large, usable courtyards. Read more.

Jackson Sun - Although Jackson Walk was considered somewhat of a gamble initially, the community is now considered by the Urban Land Institute to be one of the best 13 developments in the world that contribute to healthy living. Features quotes from developer Hal Crocker.

GlobeSt.com – Report covers the newly released ULI publication, Building for Wellness: The Business Case, which features Jackson Walk.

Leasing has begun at The Residences at La Cantera! Located adjacent the newest phase of The Shops of La Cantera in San Antonio, Texas, The Residences at La Cantera is a $50 million, urban-style mixed-use development incorporating 323 high-end apartments and more than 4,000 square feet of amenity retail space.

www.facebook.com/LaCanteraLiving

ULI - Jackson Walk is one of thirteen projects featured in the ULI report, Building for Wellness: The Business Case. In the report developers share their motivation for incorporating a variety of health and wellness features in their projects, how these features factored into the overall development and operations process, and how the market has responded. The report was released at ULI’s Spring Council Meeting in Vancouver, April 9 – 11, 2014.

Memphis Business Journal - The Sears Crosstown redevelopment has received the last major piece of funding that will allow the project to commence. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2014 and initial occupancy is planned for spring 2016.

Houston Business Journal - LRK-designed Azalea Court Breaks Ground in Houston's River Oaks District.

John S Wilder Rebuild Tennessee Award - Jackson Walk received the John S Wilder Rebuild Tennessee Award, presented by the Tennessee Development District Association and the Southwest Tennessee Development District.

nextcity.org - The Crosstown Redevelopment Project is reported on by Next City's Bill Bradley who highlights the tenant mix and how the project is emerging as a health care hub.

The Commercial Appeal - Crosstown redevelopers were awarded a $50,000 grant to design a connection between Sears Crosstown and a neighborhood trail called the V&E Greenline.

The Daily News - Article gives an update on the renovation of the Sears Crosstown building.

The Memphis Business Quarterly honored Sears Crosstown as a winner in its inaugural Innovation Awards. Demonstrating a new perspective on redevelopment and urban renewal, the project is using the Sears Crosstown building as a hub for revitalizing the community.

Tennessee’s Best Remarkable Achievement Urban Award - Jackson Walk received the 2013 Tennessee’s Best Remarkable Achievement Urban Award. The Tennessee’s Best awards are administered by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) and were announced at the closing lunch of the 2013 Governor’s Housing Summit in Nashville on October 8.

The Daily News - LRK projects receive national awards from the Multi-Housing News (MHN) Excellence Awards. The Foundry Lofts & Apartments at Eddy Street Commons won a Gold Award for Best New Development in the Student Housing category. Gables West Ave in Houston's River Oaks neighborhood won a Gold Award for Best New Development in the Mid-Rise category.

ABC 57 News - "Students Move in and Business Booms" - Notre Dame students enjoy the retail shops and retaurants at Eddy Street Commons, the mixed-use development bordering the campus. View the video clip.

U.S. Conference of Mayors' City Livability Awards Program - Jackson, Tennessee was awarded Most Livable Small City in America (population less than 100,000).  The LRK-designed healthy community Jackson Walk and the LiFT Wellness Center are featured.

Austin Business Journal - Post South Lamar mixed-use development wins Austin's 2013 Commercial Real Estate Award in the New Multifamily Development Category.

Memphis Business Journal - Van Vleet Flats is one of the projects honored in the inaugural MBJ Building Memphis Awards.

San Antonio Business Journal - The Residences at La Cantera, the first phase of the La Cantera mixed-use development, is set to break ground.