Zenith Condominiums

THE ZENITH 910 S. 2nd St. If zenith means "peak," then this project is accurately named. Few housing projects are executed with such overall thoughtfulness—everything from concept to imagery to unit plans and details has been developed to the same highly competent level. The site, overlooking the new Gold Medal Park and the Mississippi beyond presented an initial problem of appropriate exterior character. On the one hand, this is perceptually the historic Mill District, and the old industrial structures must be acknowledged. On the other hand, The Zenith engages in a tight visual relationship with the shiny, midnight-blue Guthrie Theater on the other side of the park. The design solution was really inspired: to abstract a structural pattern across the elevations, alluding to historic functional construction, yet with an emphasis on glass, accented by cherry red, in response to the new theater and its prominence of color. The living units are also thoughtfully devised, a skillful synthesis of open planning and necessarily defined spaces. Unit plans are straightforward—no attention-grabbing diagonals or gratuitous exposed mechanical. As a result, the spaces are uplifting and mature, ideal for the everyday life of the culturally sophisticated people who are likely to be residents. The first building, with 65 units is to be followed by a 100-unit second building next door.