Slate – Mixed-use community benefits from city amenities and ‘micro units’

Building Design + Construction

November 29, 2023

Architect KTGY used an affordable-by-design approach for the units of Slate, a recently completed mixed-use residential community in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Salt Lake City, Utah, is home to a new mixed-use residential community, Slate, that benefits from transit-oriented zoning and cleverly designed multifamily units. At 915 Washington Street—the heart of the city’s Central Ninth neighborhood—Slate features 150 residential units ranging from studio to two-bedroom.

Affordability-Designed Micro Units

Architect KTGY designed the units with an affordable-by-design approach. While the two-bedroom units sit in the 900-sf range, Slate’s one-bedroom apartments are around 440-sf, and studios average 350-sf as “micro units.”

In designing smaller units, the firm aimed to extend the width while shrinking depth, according to Nathan Sciarra, AIA, NCARB, Principal, KTGY.

“In doing so, we were able to create smaller units that live like big units,” says Sciarra.

This coincides with a recent trend of allocating more space to community amenities and spaces at the cost of individual unit size. This is especially evident in affordable housing communities.

Slate’s larger two-bedroom units appeal to families, students, and work-from-home professionals. In tandem with its array of amenities, easy access to public transit, and an active ground level dense with commercial space, the community draws a diverse crowd.

Transit-Oriented Location

The mixed-use development sits adjacent to the Central Ninth Trax station, near the Central Business District of Downtown Salt Lake City. This central location offers tenants a five-minute walk to local hotspots, and a 30-minute tram ride to the Salt Lake City International Airport.

Slate’s exterior also features various murals painted by local artists, softening its scale and giving it “a spark of personality,” says Sciarra.