Solis Decatur

Solis Decatur is a mixed-use, multi-family residential community consisting of 290-unit apartments and 20,000 SF of ground-floor retail. This community seeks to provide walkability to nearby retail including the new Wholefoods 365. Geared towards young professionals, the development boasts 10% workforce housing units for tenants such as police, nurses, and firefighters. Amenities were designed with spaces to encourage community activities. Private conference workspace is provided for residents who work from home. Terracing courtyards and elevated viewing decks provide public and private spaces with fire pits, hammocks, and bocce ball.

Design Challenge

Throughout the interior and exterior design work at Solis Decatur, it was important to the client they have viable retail space along with high-end interior units for the tenants to enjoy. Since this project was built at the edge of a shopping center, we had to be strategic to ensure the client’s needs were met with the available space and budget. To maximize retail visibility, we separated the original mailroom to balance the limited space available and provided extended terraces along with furniture for units directly over retail. To break up long facades, industrial brick and siding were integrated and tied together with overlapping frames. The scale along Church Street was reduced to a single bay “townhome” expression. Many elements throughout the space were custom created, including the steel stair rail in the leasing office. It was important to the client to showcase local art at the space as well – incorporating bold pieces from a variety of Atlanta artists. In order to stand out even more amongst the competition, our client required unique amenities – we researched key trends and ultimately created two finish palettes and a third upgraded penthouse concept.

Physical Context

After our initial client meetings, and researching the site and surrounding areas, we felt that Modern Industrial was the perfect way to mix raw elements with a modern twist. The initial concept was inspired by old factories and industrial spaces using materials like weathered brick, distressed wood, stained concrete and exposed ductwork. These elements were paired with smooth metals, clean lines, bold colors and dramatic design features. We think this eclectic combination of design styles accomplished targeting the young professional demographic while also maintaining the existing charm and character of Decatur. Built as part of a mixed-use development, Solis Decatur is surrounded by the burgeoning retail district of North Decatur, and is a 10 minute drive to downtown Decatur. In order to break up the mass into multiple buildings, significant grade changes were provided.