Sierra Suites, Schemmer’s mixed-use development project, is a three-level building. Providing a blend of live-work space that houses both residential and commercial tenants and is located just south of 14th and Pine Lake Road. Schemmer worked in conjunction with Krueger Development and their design architect, Keith Dubas, to make this building a reality.
Sierra Suites, a Blend of Live-Work Space
The 67,900 SF, mixed-use building has retail space on the ground level and 40 one-bedroom apartments on the second and third levels. Sierra Suites offers 14,400 SF of commercial space on the first floor, with suites ranging from 1,736 to 5,600 SF. Situated at a highly visible location, the ground level retail is designed to enable a variety of uses including drive-up service such as a coffee shop.
The second and third floor one-bedroom apartments range in size from 692 to 981 SF. A high density of units was achieved on the site as a result of the underground parking garage, which is provided for resident parking. This allows surface parking to be dedicated to customers of the ground level retail shops.
Mixed-Use Buildings
“It’s great to be involved in projects that explore and implement this building type, which enables more units on a smaller footprint, and perhaps residents won’t drive as much due to the integration of retail stores such as a coffee shop. These are principles of sustainable design,” said Pat Birch, AIA, LEED AP, project manager.
“This was an innovative project because there are very few mixed-use buildings built in the suburbs. It’s a new type of living, re-invented from an old paradigm: shops on ground level where the owner of the shop lived above. The one-bedroom units are geared to singles or couples who are looking for a smaller apartment and no yard, but convenient to retail and commercial. Ideally, those who live in the apartments might work close by.”
Schemmer provided the following services on the project:
- architecture
- structural engineering
- mechanical engineering
- electrical engineering
Design with Purpose. Build with Confidence.
Schemmer is a full-service architecture, engineering and construction field services consultant, providing responsible solutions for complex design and construction-related challenges. Founded in 1959, we are grounded in our past but remain fully committed to the future. Located in three States and six offices throughout the Midwest, Schemmer is providing services to clients from coast-to-coast and border-to-border across the United States.
