Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
EskewDumezRipple introduces Mya an innovative mixed-use development in Salt Lake City that seamlessly integrates housing, co-working space, and a range of public-private amenities.
Comprising of four stories and 130,000 square feet, Mya combines the highest quality affordable and market-rate housing with unique public and private amenities, and creative community coworking space.
The project has been awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2023 American Architecture Awards from The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The initial site selection presented several challenges, but also opportunities.
A question arose in the planning process for the project’s massing: how do you pair three seemingly different programs, pack them all comfortably in 130,000 square feet of space, and blend them seamlessly on a long and narrow key lot site?
At the ground-floor retail program, a large, glazed section offers easy visual access to passersby.
Recessed from the main face of the building, the design simultaneously enables easy thoroughfare for pedestrian traffic.
Immediately above, facing the most heavily trafficked intersection bordering the building, a carved aperture on the façade frames the two main areas of coworking.
On the neighboring face, a similar aperture showcases a central communicating stair running from the second to third floor of the coworking area, creating a vibrant window into the activity occurring within.
As the eye traverses the building from front to back, a dance happens, introducing several serrations in the facades that signify the transition from retail and workplace to residential.
The touchstone of commercial spaces of Mya is The Shop.
This 30,000 square feet space features flexible workspace, a roof deck, multiple meeting rooms, and comprehensive amenities aimed at amplifying local entrepreneurs and start-ups, while simultaneously offering a flexible space for community events and programming.
Throughout, the EskewDumezRipple interiors team took inspiration from the movement, intersection, and industrial nature of nearby railroads which played an important role in the growth of Salt Lake City in the 1800’s.
Natural woods, patinated leathers, black steel, and antiqued brass accents are used to afford a rustic yet sophisticated aesthetic.
Similarly, wood slat ceilings reference rail tracks of the pioneering days, while graphic wall coverings provide subtle references to the surrounding landscape.
Project: Mya
Architects: EskewDumezRipple
Lead Architect: Steve Dumez
General Contractor: Wadman Corporation
Client: Domain Companies
Photographers: Kelly Marshall, Austen Diamond, and Timothy Hursley
