Construction began this month on an innovative residential building on a signature site at the southwest foot of the Fremont Bridge.
The five-story Ross Flats project includes 60 apartment units and five ground-floor retail spaces, including a detached coffee shop fronting a courtyard.
Located at the corner of Nickerson Street and Fremont Avenue North, the building makes creative use of city zoning codes to add an enclosed lounge and two covered barbecue cabanas on the roof. Other amenities include a fitness room, gaming lounge and a lobby featuring a fireplace, clubroom and kitchenette.
Ross Flats will occupy the former site of the Nickerson Street Saloon. The exterior design was already approved when the developer, Fremont Bridge Holdings LLC, engaged architects from Tiscareno Associates to enlarge the units within the approved exterior design while maximizing the number of units with views of the iconic Fremont Cut.
The unusual angles of the building required Tiscareno to apply a jigsaw approach to the interior design because there are no parallel walls. The design provides two-thirds of the units with water views.
Architects also found clever ways to maximize amenities within zoning restrictions. A requirement against enclosed spaces on rooftops was circumvented by crowning the structure with a working greenhouse housing fruit bearing plants – greenhouses are allowed – that doubles as lounge space with sweeping views. The landscape architect also designed the roof deck with several pea patches allowing residents to grow their own vegetables.
Another workaround came via a 15-foot height allowance for rooftop solar panels. Panels will be installed atop two open-air structures wrapped on three sides with decking material. These structures will then double as rooftop barbecue cabanas.
The building includes underground parking for 35 vehicles.
Tiscareno Associates is the Architect of Record.
About Us
Tiscareno Associates is a mid-sized architecture and urban design firm devoted to creating exceptional spaces where people want to work, live, and gather. Through a deep dedication to collaboration and design excellence, we produce results that enrich communities for generations to come.