Blog by: Jarod Sankar
Interior Design: The Gaines Group Architects
Lobby Contractor: Legacy Building Co.
Game Room Contractor: Sustainable Solutions
If you’re from Harrisonburg, or have any association with JMU, you’ve probably encountered 865 East, the luxury student housing complex located right off I-81 on Port Republic Road. While the complex isn’t new to the area, it is under new ownership and has recently undergone a complete transformation.
The project began with a vision from the property managers. They knew that the building was in an incredible location, offered great amenities, and was well-loved by the community, and they wanted to capitalize on those things with a full facelift on both the apartments and the common areas. Adrienne and Jarod met with the property management team, asked lots of questions, took lots of photos, and looked at lots of inspiration images. Once the main programming and scope were determined, the interior design team got straight to work.
The first step of the project was capturing the right vibe for the proposed facelift. We wanted the space to feel fun and striking, yet inviting, clean, and home-like. For luxury student housing, it’s important to design with longevity and maintainability in mind, without creating a space that feels sterile. Giving the students a sense of home helps make the space feel unique but comfortably familiar. To start the process, we analyzed the information from our first initial meeting with Star and the Asset Living team and generated mood board images that would set the tone for the full renovation. After getting approval from the team to move forward, Jarod 3D-modeled the space and started working through the design for the renovated lobby, game room, and rooftop.
The lobby was the top priority. The space called for a statement, and with its tall ceilings, balcony, and expansive entrance with glass windows, the “bones” were there. We wanted to capitalize on the existing conditions but bring it up to date by incorporating warm wood tones, moody colors that create depth, statement lighting, and a 2-story tall green wall. We also relocated the lobby desk to a more central location, so the staff would have better sightlines, and would be able to access other utility spaces more easily without leaving the desk unattended. The new design proposal was fully 3D-modeled and rendered, giving the project management team marketing material for promoting the upcoming renovation.
Left: Before; Right: Our Rendering
Left: Before; Right and slider images: Renderings and after
Next, we tackled the game room. The current space had all the right conditions – natural light, easy access, and a large space. The game room was a great amenity for the apartment complex, but it was underutilized due to a poor layout and outdated finishes. The property management team’s goal was to make this space inviting and fun, and the wheels in our head began turning the moment we got back to our desks. Our vision was to create a space that would serve all needs – and addressing the layout and how the space would be used was our first step. We reconfigured the space to house a pool table, a foosball table, and a shared snack bar with couches and ottomans for game day fun or large gatherings. Alongside the new large group seating, we also added banquet seating with partitions to create pockets of more private spaces, so multiple people could use the room at once without feeling like they are impeding on another group. The finishes complement the lobby renovation, bringing in those warm wood tones, subtle JMU color influences, and capitalized on the existing space’s industrial flair.
CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS:
Just like the lobby, we created photorealistic renderings that the project management team used to build excitement for the renovations and drive leasing.
Lastly, we refreshed the rooftop terrace space. With incredible views, a wet bar, and a covered pavilion, the space already had strong potential. With just some minor tweaks to furniture, colors, and listening to how the space is primarily used, the space took on a whole new look. We added some fun pops of color to brighten the space, some furniture that allowed for suntanning which is what the space is commonly used for and updated the soft furniture under the pavilion.
We’re excited to celebrate 865 East’s new look and enjoyed having a hand in their complete renovation!
To see more photos and learn more about the complex, check them out here:
