KTGY’s Residential Designs Earn National Recognition for Excellence & Innovation

NAHB BALA & 50+ Housing Council Awards

IRVINE, CA – March 14, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Best in American Living Award (BALA) and NAHB 50+ Housing Council’s Best of 50+ Housing Awards programs recently honored KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture + Planning, and some of the country’s top builders/developers with a total of eight awards for innovation and home design excellence in the multifamily and 50+ housing markets. The award galas were recently held at the NAHB 2012 International Builders’ Show (IBS) in Orlando, FL.

Primera Terra community earned a Platinum BALA in the category of Neighborhood Design. The landmark LEED Platinum certified project, one of the largest in California, is built by KB Home (NYSE: KBH) and is comprised of 52 luxury for-sale condominium homes located in the Playa Vista master planned community in Los Angeles County.

“Primera Terra community was designed to address today’s challenging economic climate, reducing construction costs while increasing the marketability of smaller home sizes and creating a healthier, more comfortable, more economical living environment,” said Alan Scales, KTGY studio director and the project’s designer. “Primera Terra is 40% more energy efficient than the new home standards set by the state of California, which creates tremendous savings for Primera Terra residents.”

Foursquare Senior Living, a new $29 million pedestrian-oriented 132-unit mixed-use senior housing community situated near downtown Portland, received three awards: a Platinum award in the BALA competition in the category of Multifamily, On the Boards; and a Gold award in the Best of 50+ Housing Awards competition in the category of Best Market Rate Rental – On the Boards plus a 50+ Special Innovation award.

According to Dr. Greg Campbell, executive director for Foursquare Foundation of Los Angeles, the developer of the project, Foursquare Senior Living has an innovative green feature, a roof top garden terrace spanning nearly 7,600 square feet, which doubles as an eco-roof storm water treatment system. “It took elaborate planning but we are very excited about this unique amenity that residents can enjoy. The roof top garden terrace will offer great city views, comfortable lounging areas, outdoor kitchen with grills, and a gardening area,” Dr. Campbell noted.

Paragon at Old Town in Monrovia, Calif., received two BALA awards, a Gold award in the category of Rental Development up to 4 stories and a Silver award in the category of Smarter Growth Community. Developed by Urban Housing Group, a leading developer of multi-family and mixed-use residential projects, Paragon at Old Town is a four-story mixed-use, urban infill apartment community, which anchors the south end of Monrovia’s historic Old Town district and features a gateway sign over the street. The luxury apartment community consists of 163 well-appointed one- and two-bedroom apartment homes built over 6,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space.

“Paragon at Old Town is a perfect example of the type of projects that cities and experienced developers are focused on in this current economic climate: core, urban locations that offer close proximity to jobs, amenities, transportation and established infrastructure where people can live, work, play and shop,” said KTGY Principal Daniel R. McAllister, NCARB.

Fusion in Sunnyvale, Calif., built by O’Brien Homes of Foster City, Calif., received a Silver BALA in the category of Multifamily Housing up to 5 Stories. Fusion, a 228-unit eco-friendly townhome community in Silicon Valley’s thriving tech industry, presents stylish new for-sale townhomes that boast open floor plans, seven different floor plans with two to four bedrooms, green features and attractive architecture. With a host of outstanding community amenities, Fusion offers various home styles, including flats, carriage-style and traditional townhomes, all with attached two-car garages. These chic townhomes feature contemporary and Spanish Eclectic-influenced architecture as well as other appealing exterior features from spacious decks and patios to unique landscaping.

“Fusion’s community recreation center (“PULSE”) is the new standard for multifamily amenities,” said Susie O. Frimel, marketing director for Fusion.”PULSE includes Wi-Fi lounge, flat screen TV, fireplace, catering kitchen, 12-seat theater (which can be reserved for private functions), and a premium fitness center. Outdoor amenities include a spacious fire pit area with tables and seating, a playground for toddlers, a meditation garden and a putting green. Residents can gather with friends, mingle with neighbors and work out without getting into their cars.”

Cambria at Riverwalk, a 204-unit resort-style active senior community located in the heart of Riverside, Calif., was honored with NAHB 50+ Housing Council’s Best of 50+ Housing Gold award. Developed by Griffin Real Estate Management, the active senior community is close to shopping, dining, entertainment and transportation and features a large 7,500-square-foot clubhouse.

“The days of Bingo being nearly the only activity at a senior center are long gone,” said KTGY Principal Manny Gonzalez, AIA, LEED AP and lead designer of Cambria at Riverwalk. “Standing in the clubhouse or pool area at the Cambria at Riverwalk, you would think that you were at Club Med or some other vacation place.”

The large clubhouse includes a state-of-the-art fitness center plus a Wii Fitness Studio, library, business/computer center, billiards/game center and kitchen; and planned community activities and events and large common space inside each of the four apartment buildings for socializing and connecting.

“Like Gen Y and Xers, active seniors want resort-style living with a wide range of amenities, activities and services under one roof and within walking distance. Seniors don’t want to ‘retire,’ they want to remain active and vibrant, and enjoy this next phase of their life,” said Gonzalez.

NAHB’s 50+ Housing Council launched the Best of 50+ Housing Awards to encourage quality and innovation in the 50+ housing market. The Council provides information, education and networking opportunities for its members and provides advocacy support to NAHB on key 50+ housing issues. See a complete list of this year’s winners at www.nahb.org/50plusawardwinners.

For more than 25 years, the Best in American Living Awards, commonly known as BALA, have raised the bar for design excellence in the building industry and have highlighted those builders, architects, interior designers, remodelers, developers and land planners who have achieved superior levels of creativity and innovation. See a complete list of this year’s winners at www.nahb.org/bala.

About KTGY Group, Inc.
Celebrating its 20th year, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, market trends and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, Calif., Denver, Colo., and Tysons Corner, Va. See www.ktgy.com.