Arc at Old Colony
A 19th-century office building renovated into student housing for Columbia College students.Read More
SW7
Sweetwater, FL
SW7 is a 20-story, 800-bed student housing tower in Sweetwater, just off campus from Florida International University. The residence is currently under construction as one of the latest projects from our developer partner, the Collegiate Development Group. SW7 is one of four major student housing projects being built at FIU and will be an amenity-rich environment for the University to leverage as they expand their housing options, and look to attract a more diverse range of students
Client: Collegiate Development Group
Type: student, high-rise
Size: 20-story, 800-bed
Design Strategy
The design strategy behind SW7 was to first max out the height of the building, then craft the tower in an L-shape. This was done to invite an abundance of natural light into the building’s core, notably into the pool area. Within the slender tower form, the resort-style pool area is located on level six. It features a slide extending from the green roof into the water – a unique amenity whose playfulness extends into other spaces like the 12,000 SF indoor sky terrace and the 2,400 SF viewing terrace, creating optimal views to downtown Miami.
A New Beacon
Uniquely, the building’s sky terraces create a lantern-effect, seen most prominently when driving into the downtown area. In creating a new beacon in Sweetwater, SW7 features a refined exterior shell with a gridded overlay. The tower will be visible whether strolling along the nearby waterfront with each unit featuring an indoor/outdoor experience, taking advantage of the Miami climate. In addition to setting a height on window seals to reveal stunning, units will feature panoramic views of the city. Most importantly, this will be achieved without sacrificing spatial layout. SW7 incorporates experiences other student housing projects don’t normally feature, at least not all together.
