Tampa, Florida, USA
Inspired by the natural structure, purity, and vibrancy of Florida’s coral reefs, Heron by Kohn Pedersen Fox with Raymond Jungles Inc. for Strategic Property Partners is a pair of multifamily residential towers on Tampa’s waterfront which is developed and engineered to promote physical health and mental well-being for its residents.
“We approached the buildings’ design as part of an overall WELL-certified community that would enable a holistic, healthy lifestyle,” says Trent Tesch, lead architect at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates.
“Our design for Heron picks up on these themes through its scale, materiality, and architectural expression.”
Heron has recently been awarded a 2022 American Architecture Award and a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
With a distinct presence on the Tampa waterfront, Heron marks the beginning of the city’s famed Riverwalk.
The pair of “sibling” towers is connected by a retail podium that activates the streetscape and draws visitors from the surrounding neighborhood.
Cladding is minimized in favor of board form, structural concrete on the towers, and perforated metal at the podium level.
By integrating textures that are both rough and refined, the design nods to the natural surroundings and celebrates the pared-down expression of the structure.
While the western tower has a direct ground connection, the eastern tower is lifted and perched upon a sculptural tree column, providing a memorable front door for residents.
The angled towers gesture toward the water while maximizing the distance between the two masses to optimize daylight access and unobstructed views.
Wrap-around balconies serve as both shading devices and light diffusers for the apartments below.
Angular shifts in the articulation of individual balconies describe the scale of the internal space, allowing the units themselves to become identifying characteristics of the towers.
At the podium level, perforated metal screens shield the open-air parking and are subtly angled to catch the light and animate the façade.
Reflecting the wellness-oriented vision for Water Street Tampa — the world’s first WELL-certified neighborhood — Heron is built to meet LEED Gold standards and includes amenities and programming designed to promote health and overall well-being.
Project: Heron
Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC.
Lead Architect: Trent Tesch
Landscape Architects: Raymond Jungles Inc.
Interior Architects: Cecconi Simone Interior Design
Client: Strategic Property Partners
General Contractor: Coastal Construction Group
Photographers: Kevin Scott
