AMLI Lenox Brings a New Approach to Buckhead Living
***Guest Blog: Krista Dumkrieger, Senior Associate – Cooper Carry***
Buckhead has long been Atlanta’s epicenter of luxury and sophistication. However, while the area boasts an abundance of high-end shopping, dining and entertainment districts, the community has been missing accessibility. Without a defined and easily navigable street grid, locals and visitors to Buckhead alike typically rely on cars and parking to visit the area’s hot spots and access outdoor recreation areas.
That’s why our approach to designing AMLI Lenox, part of the multi-building network including AMLI Buckhead, AMLI 3464 and forthcoming AMLI Flatiron, focused on improving connectivity, supporting healthy living and creating community in the neighborhood. The latter two both also designed by Cooper Carry and meet LEED Gold certification, surpassing the original sustainability goal of LEED Silver. Each concept is designed with varying floor plans and amenities to cater to different resident needs, whether single or roommates, commuters or remote workers, millennials or baby boomers.
We wanted residents of the high-rises to feel like true urbanites, taking advantage of the nearby transit station, local parks as their backyards and all the necessities within walking distance. The AMLI development is a great example of how Buckhead is densifying to resemble Atlanta’s Midtown and Downtown or dense urban cities such as New York or Chicago, so it was important to leverage this in the holistic design strategy.
Enhancing pedestrian activity at AMLI
The AMLI development is a short walk to the Lenox MARTA station, Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square Mall, making it an attractive home base for urban explorers. Coupled with wide surrounding sidewalks and street parking that acts as a buffer between roadways and pathways, the enhanced pedestrian experience allows residents to navigate on foot or by bike with a connected network of sidewalks.
Pedestrian activity is further encouraged on the ground-level retail space at AMLI Lenox. Mini-marketplace SAVI Provisions is set to take the full floor when it opens in early 2021 and will activate the adjacent streetscape with residents and locals stopping in for a bottle of wine or supplies for an outdoor picnic.
Improving the indoor-outdoor connection in an urban district
With the existing 1.5-acre Marie Sims Park anchoring the entire AMLI community, Cooper Carry saw an opportunity to forge a stronger link between the indoors and outdoors at AMLI Lenox. This idea led us to add the linear Oak Valley Park to the design plan, which will connect to Marie Sims Park via a well-lit, thoughtfully landscaped path and make it even easier for residents to access a green oasis in the heart of Buckhead.
While a seemingly simple solution, a linear park is actually a pretty major win for the community. This stretch of site could have been used as supplemental parking or other uses, but is now dedicated to connecting the built environment to the natural environment.
Connectivity is a key foundation for successful urban communities, and as Buckhead continues to evolve, AMLI Lenox delivers a residence that is already ahead of the curve. Though these design plans were created and represent existing trends pre-coronavirus, this year has brought a deeper appreciation for the value of sustainability, options for shopping local, walkability and access to nature.
Whether AMLI residents are using the wider-than-average sidewalks to bring home groceries, walking their dogs at Oak Valley Park or enjoying a bike-in movie night at Marie Sims Park, they are enjoying a modern Buckhead experience while also paving the way for a healthier future.
About Krista Dumkrieger: Krista Dumkrieger is a Senior Associate in the Mixed-Use and Residential Studios at design firm Cooper Carry. As a registered architect and project manager, she is responsible for coordinating the needs of designers, technical staff, independent consultants, engineers and landscape architects. Working closely with clients to evaluate proposed sites, develop a responsive program and create an inspiring design, Krista oversees implementation through quality design and construction detailed documents, community and design-review board engagement, and developing a team-based approach to construction administration. In addition to AMLI Lenox, she has recently been involved with
The Gadsden, a 143,033-square-foot condominium building in Charleston, SC, and Riverworks at Eastern Wharf, a 783,237-square-foot mixed-use development in Savannah, Georgia.
