In the heart of Tucson, Ariz., lies a 39,600-square foot (3,679-m2), 22-unit town loft project that defines community living with a location near shopping, dining and the University of Arizona while embodying sustainable living. IndigoMODERN features environmentally friendly building materials, energy efficiency and a central location that taps into the existing infrastructure.
Located on the 3rd Street bike path, indigo- MODERN makes use of an infill location with energy efficient design and efficient use of indoor and outdoor space. The site features a community pool along with an 8-foot- (2.4-m-) diameter O-shaped jet engine cowling that provides a unique sculptural element. Perfectly round and unabashed, the cowling sculpture contrasts readily with the 90-degree angles of the architecture to create a modern day termination of axis.
The community planning was based on separating cars and pedestrians while creating public and private paths and courtyards. Working within the confines of local zoning requirements, the community situates two rows of residences on either side of a central walkway that culminates in a pool at the far end.
Completed in September 2007, the first phase of 11 homes are 1,800 square feet (167 m2) with three bedrooms and two baths. Windows overlook private courtyard space and the desert sky, while private balconies provide an unimpeded view of the Catalina Mountains. Each home includes rainwater harvesting, solar water heat preplumbing, photovoltaic prewiring, and the Tucson Electric PowerComfort Guarantee that homeowners will save up to 35 percent on heating and cooling costs.
Homes feature rainwater harvesting through a 4-foot- (1.2-m-) diameter by 11-foot- (3.4-m-) high galvanized metal road culvert that captures 100 percent of the rainwater from the roof for basic gardening, which helps to reduce water bills; xeriscaping; passive solar shading devices on the balcony trellis, along with a sliding steel door that provides shade and reduces heat transfer from the exterior; prewiring for solar photovoltaic panels and preplumbing for solar hot water; and energy-efficient natural sunlight skylights from Solatube International Inc., Vista, Calif., that takes natural lighting and disperses it using mirrors to bring more daylight into th homes. Owners can choose upgrades that includePV panels, bamboo flooring and a dual-flush toilet.
Steelscape, Kalama, Wash., provided approximately 16,000 square feet (1,486 m2) of Vintage II pre-aged galvanized sheet metal to Intec Installation Inc., Tucson, to form 602 linear feet (183 m) of custom break metal fl ashing, siding and site fenc-ing. Custom designed metal elements were used throughout the project, including balcony-shade boxes that filter light through a galvanized hatchannel trellis. Exquisite Creations and Structural Steel, Tucson, fabricated and installed the exterior shade trellis balconies, along with the stairs, railings and pool steel pipe fence.
Additional green products used for indigoMODERN include blown-in cellulose insulation; recycled concrete; Edwards, Ohio-based Dunn Edwards Ecoshield low-VOC latex paint; and Avon, Ohio-based Henkel Corp.’s OSI Green Series SA-197 Siliconized Acrylic Latex Caulking for the interior and Green Series Acrylic Urethane sealant for the exterior.
indigoMODERN, Tucson, Ariz.
Owner: 3rd Street Lofts LLC, Tucson
Architect: Rob Paulus Architect Ltd., Tucson
General contractor: Ollanik Construction Co. Inc., Tucson
Siding, flashing and site fencing fabricator/installer: Intec Installation Inc., Tucson
Trellis, stair, railing, fence and balcony fabricator/installer: Exquisite Creations and Structural Steel, Tucson
Paints: Dunn Edwards Paints, Edwards, Ohio, Henkel Corp., Avon, Ohio
Caulks and sealants: Henkel Corp., Avon
Daylighting: Solatube International Inc., Vista, Calif.
Galvanized sheet metal: Steelscape, Kalama, Wash.
