MERIT AWARD

Represents superior accomplishment in the profession of landscape architecture.

4TH WEST

“A well planned and detailed rooftop garden. A good example of a project that inspires other work. Would have liked to see the courtyard spaces as well.”
— ASLA Oregon Awards Jury

PROJECT STATEMENT

The UC&D Most Outstanding Multi-Family Project Award winning 4th West has changed the way people experience apartment living in Salt Lake City’s downtown. It has set a new standard and precedent for rooftop and outdoor living experiences by having the largest and most exciting residential intensive green roof and amenities in the state.

4th West is a game changer for Salt Lake’s west side and was developed to breathe new life to a vacated city block of dilapidated old buildings across from West High School. Along with 493 residential units it includes a mixed-use component; a grocery store to mitigate a long-time food desert along with some long term small office and retail shop tenants.

The highlight of the project is an enormous and enthralling one-acre intensive green roof amenity terrace appropriately named “Sky Lounge.” The Sky Lounge includes luxury indoor and outdoor rooftop amenities, the likes of which Salt Lake City had yet to see or experience before.

PROJECT NARRATIVE

DESIGN CONTEXT

  • Utah has a booming economy where population growth is one of the highest in the nation. With such an increase in population there is a strong demand for new and affordable housing.

  • There is a luxury housing gap in the Salt Lake City downtown area. This means many people (especially those moving in from out of state) are living in apartments that are less than what they had hoped for in terms of features and amenities.

    • “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, lets bring upscale apartment living to those that want to live downtown.” - Richard Lamprecht, Developer

  • By making a place for high-income earners, 4th West is helping to create more availability of mid-range apartments. By transforming the way developers approach apartment building, 4th West has elevated the standard of living for all market-rate and even affordable apartments. It has set in motion a desire for more usable outdoor living spaces and experiences in the city where there previously was none; by leveraging the availability of rooftops on apartment buildings.

  • 4th West is an ultra-high end 493-unit development at 255 North 400 West. It utilizes a ‘wrap’ design concept, with a six-story central parking structure surrounded by living units. 4th West also contains a mixed-use component comprised of a large space for a grocery store and several work and retail spaces on the northeast corner of the street level.

  • 4th West is located just west of West High School and one block north of The Gateway Mall - a large retail development that was struggling to keep tenants.

    • “We thought it would even help West High School. You know, that we would have more people living here; kids wouldn’t be messing around on empty lots, so we also thought it was gonna be a benefit from that standpoint as well.” - Richard Lamprecht, Developer

  • The project’s proximity to downtown location such as Vivint Smart Home Arena, City Creek, Utah Symphony and Opera, Museum of Contemporary Art, Temple Square, and Salt Lake Convention Center and the adjacent FrontRunner and TRAX stations make the location ideal to be a catalyst for revitalization and positive change within the neighborhood.

  • 4th West has been awarded the Most Outstanding Multi-Family Project Award in 2017 by Utah Construction and Design (UC&D).

  • Quotes from current 4th West residents found online demonstrate social proof of the viability and success of rooftop living spaces:

    • “The rooftop is second to none! Great job on that, everyone is absolutely obsessed with it.” - Andrew G.

    • “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.

    • “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 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.

ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

  • The success of the iconic Sky Lounge has demonstrated to local developers the value of immersive rooftop outdoor living space, and has opened the door for future green infrastructure throughout the city. The presence of large fire features, heavy concrete planters with space to grow sizable trees, and an olympic-sized swimming pool on top of an apartment building challenged the perceptions of what was possible and practical. An outdoor rooftop amenity is now a “must-have” in the minds of developers, setting the stage for a greener and healthier city.

  • The street level landscape features low water use plantings grouped by hydrozones from SLC approved plant lists and the preservation of all existing large sycamore street trees along 400 West.

  • The entire site utilizes water efficient irrigation design and smart technology and equipment to conserve water and biodegradable cedar mulch to add nutrients to soil for healthier plant ecology.

  • Walkable community amenities include convenient access to FrontRunner and TRAX stations and a nearby bike share.

DESIGN VALUE TO THE CLIENT AND OTHER DESIGNERS

  • The development group and investors have had tremendous success in maximizing their occupancy rates since the opening of 4th West.

  • Resale values have increased by more than 100% in the last 3 years since its completion.

  • 4th West has set a new standard for what rooftop amenities should look and feel like and has inspired other developers to do similar projects on their multi-family projects. It is a comparable for all residential developer clients of landscape architects in Utah.

  • All developers in town that have met and worked with the landscape architect reference 4th West when they have new rooftop projects saying: “Our project is no 4th West but we want to do something similar.”

  • 4th West has been a catalyst for changing perceptions of what is possible and viable in downtown Salt Lake and other city centers like Provo, Orem, Sugar House, and Draper - to name a few.

  • 4th West is a source of inspiration for other designers and gives them greater confidence concerning what is possible for their developer clients.

  • It has become the design standard for rooftops in Utah.

  • Similar projects are seeing higher initial budget allocations for new projects early in the proforma stage, allowing designers to create more engaging and valuable spaces.

  • There is an abundance of new rooftop projects as a result of 4th West’s successful completion, providing many opportunities to landscape architects in Utah.