A survey crew completes construction staking for the sidewalks at WaterSide Residences in Lenexa.
The luxury apartments at the WaterSide Residences on Quivira feature an array of resort-like amenities that catch the eye as one drives up, from a saltwater, resort-style pool surrounded by cabanas to the state-of-the-art clubhouse with a 24-hour workout facility. For McClure Engineering Company (MEC), the 10-building luxury apartment complex required detailed design and planning to ensure it functioned so well that these efforts will go unnoticed.
For the 380-unit complex in Lenexa, Kansas, Block Real Estate Services, Inc., hired MEC to assist the project team with site planning, and complete the surveying, platting, construction document preparation, construction staking, and third-party inspection services. The first two phases of the complex has already received so much interest from potential residents that Block is working with MEC and the development team on a third phase, including two more buildings, additional amenities and 104 additional units.
“Luxury apartment-style housing is a really big deal in the industry right now,” said Greg Watson, project manager. “With an apartment project, the buildings and amenities are usually located in a relatively tight space, so it becomes very important to be extremely detailed with the grading and drainage for the site – from the data collection through the design and construction phases.”
With numerous sidewalks and walking paths on the property, MEC worked closely with NSPJ Architects to ensure routes met accessibility requirements with the proper slope, so all residents could enjoy them. Grading and stormwater planning was also essential to ensure the site functions well and water drains away from the buildings and site amenities.
“We have worked with NSPJ Architects and the contractor, Titan Built, on numerous projects recently,” said Watson. “Having experience with the entire development team helps with communication, which is critical to keeping a large development project like this on time and on budget.”
Watson added that working with the in-house survey crew further streamlined the processes by simplifying the coordination and speed with which he was able to obtain needed site data.
The WaterSide Residences include 380 one- and two-bedroom apartments that range in size from 640 square feet to 1,345 square feet, each including 9-foot ceilings, up-scale finishes, full-size washers and dryers, high-end appliances, and walk-in closets.
WaterSide Residences on Quivira feature an array of resort-like amenities. The apartments have attracted enough interest that there are additional buildings being added to a third phase.
“The buildings themselves look very inviting,” said Watson. “They are very well-designed and don’t look like your typical apartments. It’s enjoyable being a part of making a beautiful project like this function well. For us, a job well done is one in which our work on the site slopes, accessibility and drainage goes unnoticed, because it functions so well.”
While construction will not be complete at WaterSide Phase 1 and 2 until the fall, the first three buildings and the clubhouse are already open to residents.
“Over the years, I have worked on dozens of apartment projects. For me, the most rewarding part is seeing the client leasing out the new units and the residents enjoying the space. That validates that it was a successful project for the entire team,” said Watson.
