A planned mixed-use urban community north of Dallas will provide an ideal setting for companies and researchers to test devices and technology for sustainable living.
The $127 million development, dubbed the Urban Living Laboratory, will cover 1.1 million square feet and is expected to break ground in late 2011. The lab will 600 apartments, 200 student housing units, 120,000 square feet of office space, two luxury hotels, retail boutiques totaling 100,500 square feet, a fresh market, several restaurants, and more, according to the project’s official website. The project is centered around a Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) station that links to the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and downtown Dallas.
Designs will maximize green surfaces and daylighting, minimize water usage with creative landscaping and low-flow fixtures, and incorporate thermally efficient windows and exteriors, reflective roofs, and ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. The Observing how the residents live, work, and play and measuring the impacts of green designs will help builders choose the optimal strategy for their own projects and test the effectiveness of green products, researchers believe.
To see the site plan or learn more about the project, visit www.urbanlivinglaboratory.com