Project Description
BKV Group, a multidisciplinary design firm, today announced the completion of Modera Katy Trail, a 14-story, 216-unit rental tower at 5350 McKinney Ave. in Uptown Dallas. Developed by Mill Creek Residential, the luxury apartment community started welcoming its first residents earlier this summer.
Utilizing its holistic model, BKV Group supported the development of Modera Katy Trail by providing planning and pre-development services and leading all engineering, architecture, interior design and landscaping.
To achieve the building’s desired density in context with its urban location, BKV Group employed a light gauge steel construction process in the design and delivery of Modera Katy Trail. An innovative approach for the Dallas market, light gauge steel construction was selected based on BKV Group’s meticulous research into zoning, codes and building technology, and through collaboration with contractors to identify the most cost-efficient and high-density system for the site. Employing this tactic, which integrated the light gauge steel structure with a concrete podium base, allowed BKV Group to satisfy the developer’s vision for the project while saving time, lowering construction costs and reducing the building’s carbon footprint, as the technology is more sustainable than traditional concrete construction.
The building’s location – at the nexus of Katy Trail and McKinney Avenue in Uptown Dallas – influenced the types of amenities offered at Modera Katy Trail. With the lobby located just steps from the start of Katy Trail, a popular recreational path built on the old Union Pacific railroad line, BKV Group incorporated shared spaces that allow residents to enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle, including a community porch overlooking the trail.
“The Modera Katy Trail location had been passed up over the years due to density requirements primarily suitable for a wood-frame project, but with BKV’s expertise and knowledge in the use of light gauge steel and prefabrication, we were able to come in with a design concept that fit within the zoning specifications,” said Jonathan Delcambre, design leader and managing partner at BKV Group. “The resulting development is unique to the Dallas market, not just in construction type, but in the sweeping unobstructed views of the south toward the city, on-site amenities, and lifestyle opportunities afforded by its location along the trail.”
Taking cues from the building’s natural surroundings, BKV Group incorporated floral motifs and botanical design elements in the shared spaces of Modera Katy Trail. These details are juxtaposed by a subdued palette that emphasizes varied textures to create a serene environment throughout. The exterior facade features a dark gray iron-spot brick at the podium and transitions to an ivory white brick with interspersed dark gray accents on the upper towers. These dual palettes, coupled with the articulation of the garage openings, reminisce the keys of a piano – a nod to Steinway Hall, the area’s exclusive Steinway & Sons piano dealer that is located adjacent to the building. A lounge on the ground level of the property with a Steinway & Sons grand player piano also pays homage to the notable neighbor.
Through a curated art program, BKV Group selected imagery for the property’s common areas that features natural scenes representative of the local area. The signature piece of artwork, located in the first-floor mailroom, is a wall-to-wall collage done in sepia tones that brings to life Katy Trail’s history through photos of old steam engines along the rail line and a vintage railroad map of the region.
“Both the exterior and interiors of Modera Katy Trail seek to link past with present, a theme that inspired everything from the artwork on the walls to the sage green color tones of the furniture,” said Joan Sizemore, interior design director and associate partner at BKV Group. “It was also imperative to include elements associated with Texas itself, such as bluebonnets and different shades of leather, which are tastefully incorporated throughout to evoke a sense of place.”
Indoor amenities include a bike and ride-share lounge, pet spa and dog-washing room off the lobby and a fully equipped fitness center, clubroom with coworking spaces and gaming, and conference room on the fifth floor. Expansive views of Uptown and Downtown Dallas can also be enjoyed from the fifth-floor amenity area, which features a landscaped pool deck with outdoor dining areas and fire pits. On the penthouse level, residents have access to a clubhouse lounge with private dining spaces, a fireplace and wet bar.
Modera Katy Trail features studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes with a collection of penthouses on the 14th floor and ground-level townhomes fronting Katy Trail. Residences feature wood-plank flooring, modern kitchens with quartz countertops and custom cabinetry, double-vanity bathrooms, and ample storage. A selection of units feature 10-foot ceilings, as well as balconies and patios for residents to enjoy the outdoors from the privacy of their own homes.
BKV Group is currently in the planning stages of two other Dallas-based projects, a 16-story mixed-use development in South Harwood and a 25-story transit-oriented development in the Deep Ellum neighborhood.