Minnesota enters the modular era with Alvera Apartments

Eye-catching Alvera Apartments has added 193 units to one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Minnesota’s capital city. There were challenges to making this project a reality, but the award-winning results prove we’re just beginning to understand the possibilities of modular construction.

Overcoming the challenges

Alvera Apartments’ St. Paul parcel presented three significant design hurdles. The 0.6-acre lot is narrow at the front and wider at the back. The bedrock three feet below the surface meant underground parking wasn’t feasible. Finally, the location, on one of the busiest traffic corridors in the entire state, would have complicated construction. The answers to these challenges came from creative thinking and strong collaboration between Minneapolis-based DJR Architecture & Design and RISE Modular, an off-site construction company based in the Twin Cities area. 
 
Together, they created a design for modular units that would maximize the oddly shaped lot. Assembling the modules off-site shortened the construction duration to 13 months, as opposed to the 18 to 24 months that would have been standard otherwise. Once modules were complete, the building rose quickly. Storing a minimum number of modules on a nearby lot reduced the impact on the neighborhood, and the whole building came together in less than three weeks. 

To address the parking limitations brought by the bedrock and the narrow lot, the team pivoted to a two-story semi-automated parking system that takes advantage of vertical space. In total, they were able to add 102 parking spots. But that’s not all: The nontraditional parking solution allowed for an additional 30 units—key to making the building financially viable. 

Long-term benefits

Off-site construction didn’t just speed construction and ease neighborhood disruption. Each module’s structural soundness improves the experience for residents by creating quieter living environments. The factory construction also resulted in a tighter building envelope—one that is equipped to hold up to Minnesota’s frigid winters and humid summers.

Supporting that building envelope are Andersen’s 100 Series windows and doors. Made of Fibrex composite material, this product line has matching sightlines and glass setbacks across window types, allowing for mixing and matching via a seamless joining system that lends itself to commercial applications. RISE installed the windows as the modules were built. 

Setting a new standard

The project was the first Type III-A modular building constructed in the area. Its seven stories include two in the concrete podium and five made of stacked modules. DJR worked closely with the city of St. Paul to navigate zoning, planning, and inspection processes. The result is more than just this building—it’s a path that future modular projects can follow.

Find out more about how Andersen can support your next commercial project, explore the 100 Series product line, and learn about the Easy Connect Joining System.  

AIA, its officers, directors, committee members, and employees, acting in their AIA capacity, and AIA’s component organizations, do not sponsor or endorse any enterprise, whether public or private, operated for profit. The use of brand names and/or any mention or listing of specific commercial products or services is solely for educational purposes and does not imply any endorsement or recommendation by AIA. Links to other websites or apps are provided solely for the convenience of the user and do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by AIA. AIA assumes no responsibility for the content or operation of third-party websites, apps, or entities.