New students at the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth are living large in a new residential housing complex. Opened in August 2020, Spruce and Balsam Halls have a total of 1,210 beds set in modern facilities. The buildings flank a new 2-story dining center called The Grove. The project is a unique public-private partnership between the university and multifamily developer Greystar. PRISM worked with Mixed Media Creations to develop a full suite of renderings used to show the community what was being built, and to gain support for the project. Aerial view renderings show the convenient connection of the complex to student parking. Plan view renderings illustrate the configuration of the double and single rooms. Vivid interior renderings depict the spacious and inviting common areas and dining options. Each residential hall includes maker spaces, a business center, practice/performance rooms, community kitchens, laundry center, dedicated study rooms, resident lounges, and gender-neutral bathrooms. The Grove provides multiple hot food stations, a full deli and salad bar, and seating for 800. There is also outdoor patio seating and a firepit for cool Massachusetts nights.
The author Stephen Covey, best known for his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, recommended people “see every problem as an opportunity to exercise creative energy.” That’s exactly what Scarlet Capital is doing with their property at 1901 N. Main Street. The private real estate firm is working with the Urban Partnerships Community Development Corporation (UP CDC) to market the property, located just minutes north of downtown Houston in Near Northside. Scarlet hired PRISM to develop a rendering that shows the potential for the existing building on the site, which is directly on the Metro Rail line. The property is also part of Houston’s Walkable Places Pilot Program, which has specific development regulations to create a welcoming outdoor experience. PRISM’s detailed rendering depicted a ground up development showing the building as a casual dining concept, helping to meet UP CDC’s mission of catalyzing commerce and economic development in low and moderate income communities.
Happy copper anniversary to Vivian Peng, our VP of Project Management! Yep, that means seven years of skillfully bringing PRISM projects to fruition. Which is only fitting since 2021 is the year of the Metal Ox in the Chinese Lunar calendar; it is characterized by people who are hardworking, active, and popular among friends.
Our VP of Business Development Deborah Gross celebrated extra big on her special day this year. Happy 40th birthday to you! Yours is a smile that lights up the room and a heart as big as Texas. We’re blessed to have you as part of our team.
And cheers to our Marketing Coordinator, Jill Solis, who also just celebrated a birthday! Our outdoor adventurer has been a wonderful addition to PRISM. Your positive energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Happiest Birthday to you!
Urban Land Institute (ULI) is the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world. If that’s not reason enough to participate, their ability to foster one-on-one connections with real estate leaders is. Deborah recently attended the ULI Houston Dinner & Dialogue event, hosted by the ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative. The program featured Miriam Wheeler, a partner and managing director at Goldman Sachs. She provided candid, inspirational, and insightful comments about her career and how real estate is changing.
I'm so honored to have been chosen as one of the 36 scholars in Houston for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program this fall. The program consists of nine modules and three clinics to deep dive into our businesses. At the end of the three-month program, I'll complete and present my business growth plan; a strategic and tactical implementation roadmap to guide my business forward based on specific growth opportunities. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a condensed program to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunities by providing greater access to practical business education, access to capital, and a supportive network of Advisors and Peers. I'm excited to learn from my cohort's faculty and other business owners. I'm confident this program will help me take PRISM to new heights. Let the journey begin!
If vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others, then renderings are a manifestation of that vision. Studies show that 65% of the population is visual learners. Further, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual. This is what makes renderings an invaluable tool to showcase the vision behind every project our clients undertake. We at PRISM have the opportunity to work with many visionaries. These professionals come from diverse backgrounds. They are developers, architects, interior designers, building owners, real estate brokers, and engineers. The commonality among them is their passion for making positive contributions to the built environment. For some, the vision is fully developed. For others, the vision is in its infancy and still taking shape. Whether clients come to us with plans and supporting documents, or just rough sketches and inspiration photos, we get to turn the invisible idea into something photorealistic, almost tangible. This video compares PRISM renderings to the final built project. We are so proud to be a tiny part of every project we’re asked to do. And we are also extremely proud of our skilled team, who ensure every detail brings our clients’ visions to life, just as they imagined.
Morgan Group is riding the demand wave for apartments in Houston; they plan to open another of their luxury Pearl product in early 2023. Construction is underway on Pearl Rosemont, located on the western edge of Midtown. ApartmentData.com reported in their September report occupancy rates of 91.7%, the highest rate in over two years. Rents are also rising at the fastest pace in years. In keeping with the Pearl brand “live well” experience, Pearl Rosemont will feature luxury finishes, distinct amenities, high energy efficiency, and a walker-friendly neighborhood. Morgan is also going bigger at Pearl Rosemont with 13 stories, to take advantage of surrounding views to downtown and Uptown. The site is at the corner of Albany and Dennis Streets and surrounded primarily by single family homes. PRISM worked with Haven Design Studio to produce interior renderings the project. This is the # Pearl project PRISM has worked on. Pearl Rosemont will have 298 units, each with a balcony, and total 258,000 s.f. Architect Ziegler Cooper created an aqua lounge, a covered common area adjacent to the resort-style pool and outdoor kitchen on the fifth floor. There is also a platinum fitness center with a private workout studio, dog washing stations, and an in-house Stockwell mini-store. There are 427 parking spaces on the first floor levels of Pearl Rosemont, with nine levels of residential space above. This puts all units above the tree line with exceptional views to the downtown Houston skyline.
The Lawn at the Loop will provide an outdoor oasis right in the heart of Houston. This renovated area in Houston’s First Baptist Church is designed to promote many types of fellowship in the open air. The 23,300sf outdoor courtyard sits within the main campus on the southwest corner of the I-10/610 interchange.
