2020
Broad Ripple Village
HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles
G BLOC contributes density, a professional workforce, and a distinct design to the newly-vibrant intersection at 64th Street and the Monon Trail.
G BLOC Modern Live + Work is a new development in Broad Ripple North Village that includes a mix of commercial office, urban residential lofts, and covered parking. It is located on a small city block at 841 E 64th Street.
We enjoyed the public process that began in early 2016 and worked toward a solution that most effectively meets the multifaceted urban design goals of this excellent location. It was an engaging and stimulating dialogue with the neighborhood and the City in an effort to balance the desire for pedestrian engagement and more mixed-use density fitting Broad Ripple’s Envision Plan while also managing flood-plain requirements.
The location (formerly 6367 and 6371 Guilford) is just a few feet from the Monon Trail and borders Guilford, 64th, Cornell, and Main.
Please refer to the Architect’s website for a more detailed story.
Please refer to G BLOC website for leasing information.
Architecture/Interior Design/Renderings/Photography: HAUS | Architecture
Construction Management: WERK | Building Modern
Leasing: Thomas English Retail Real Estate
Developer: G BLOCK, LLC – G BLOC Property Website
Honored: 2023 AIA Indiana – Merit Award for Architecture (New Construction – Project Cost Less Than $5 Million)
On entry to G BLOC Co-Working space, the skylighted space vaults to reveal the architectural stair and loft overlook.
Location of G BLOC main entry, office balcony, and other architectural highlights provide a thoughtful visual anchor when looking from 65th Street south to Cornel Avenue.
From the northside, 64th Street exterior elevation, we can see the main building entrance to the left, and parking level entrance to the right.
View of G BLOC Co-Working Cafe from Loft above – office tenants have access to a full assortment of beverages and snacks.
Exterior facade includes greenscreen walls to help meet the transparency requirements. At the time, public art as defined by an artist or architect could supplement that particular zoning requirement. Since the building is in a flood zone with BFE (Base Flood Elevation) more than 5-ft in some locations, we needed to minimize the number of window/door openings on the base level. The greenscreens help soften the pedestrian experience while continuing the building’s opening pattern.
G BLOC Co-Working includes a mix of conferencing spaces. The large conference room includes hybrid conference/meeting capabilities.
The central west-facing entrance consolidates three doors in-order to allow a singular flood-gate to cover that side. One door is direct stair egress, one leads to trash + sprinkler room, and one leads to lease/storage space. Integral flood gate tracks accommodate a 12-ft wide custom flood gate.
Co-working spaces include a mix of private office and open-bullpen desk spaces.
Question: Why does the ground slope-up to the building to some degree on all sides?
Answer: The pre-existing site slopes from side-to-side, corner-to-corner. Zoning requirements for MU-2 dictated a maximum building height of 35-feet. So to achieve the desired building heights, we needed to increase the effective average base height relative to how we calculated the average building height to the roof surface. Parapets, skylights, and elevator towers were allowed to exceed the height limit.
For those in the open-office space needing privacy, G BLOC provides private phone booths and conference rooms. Also, the balcony overlooking the popular intersection at 64th/Cornell/Monon Trail is a great casual working space.
Question: But what about the building form? From where did that originate?
Answer: We applied for variances for height, clear site triangle, and zoning classification. We achieved the rezone to MU-2, but were not successful for encroachment into clear-site triangle or building height exceeding 35-ft. The angled facades on the four corners are a direct response to the clear-site triangle requirement.
G BLOC Residential Lofts include oversized windows with shades, and custom kitchenettes.
Cafe kitchenette + booth detail.
The 2-level space is punctuated by the architectural stair and stair-length skylight.
The Cafe booths are a popular place for meetings, laptop work, and lunch.
Please check back for updates!