Azure Brings New Hue to Dallas

Luxury Condos Heighten City's Uptown Image

by Tonie Auer

Azure's many luxury amenities, such as views of downtown Dallas, will make it stand out from other high-rise residential projects. (Photo courtesy of Azure.)

Azure, a 31-story condominium tower, will add a blue-tinted sparkle to the Dallas skyline when completed in spring 2007.

The $100 million project is the latest addition to the 12 city blocks of Harwood International Center in Uptown Dallas.

Under construction on 1.3 acres at Wolf and McKinnon streets near the North Dallas Tollway, the luxury condo tower - which is already 80 percent presold - will be the tallest building in Dallas' Uptown area. The 202 condominium units and penthouse suites will range in size from 1,085 sq. ft. to more than 9,700 sq. ft.

Starting in the $400,000 range, suites will include floor-to-ceiling glass and grand terraces with outdoor fireplaces.

In addition to the luxury amenities, Azure offers its residents what its developer, Dallas-based Harwood International, calls "walk-to-life" living: within walking distance of some of the area's best attractions, including the American Airlines Center, the Arts District and many restaurants and entertainment venues, said Bill Hilburn, senior vice president for development of Harwood.

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"High-rises are no strangers to Dallas," said James Cheng, architect of Azure and principal with Vancouver, Canada-based James K.M. Cheng Architects Inc. "But residential high-rises are relatively new to the market."

He added that Azure will blend the existing character of the Harwood International center with a more modern expression."

The building will feature mostly blue-tinted glass and stone for low maintenance and a long-term appeal, Cheng said. Constructed of glass and an aluminum curtain-wall frame, the building will never need painting. The stone is long lasting.

"We want to imply a sense of timelessness to it by using a timeless material and classic lines," Cheng said. "We're using a wind-resistance core in the central core with no moment frames. We're using a lot more glass and a sheer core because it looks prettier and is easier to build."

An aerial view illustrates the design’s use of green spaces and water features. (Image courtesy of Azure.)

To combat potential high energy use from the amount of glass, the balconies will wrap around the building to act as sunshades, Cheng said. The balconies >> will afford residents with a view of the downtown skyline.

"In Dallas, it is nice to sit outside, and on some of the larger balconies we have introduced an outdoor fireplace," Cheng added. "The deck is more like an extension of an outdoor living room."

Azure will boast an Olympic-size pool and deck area.

"Most high-rises don't have this kind of feature; they just have a tower and a ground lawn with no common area for people to loiter and meet," Cheng said. "We spent a lot of time designing this little pavilion and cabanas for people to use."

A rendering shows Azure’s mostly glass exterior, Olympic-size pool and balconies that wrap around the building in such a way that they will provide shade for residents. (Image courtesy of Azure.)

Azure will feature extensive use of water with a waterfall at the corner of the property where McKinnon turns into the tollway.

"The water feature is repeated inside in the lobby," Cheng said. "Another feature on this building is a vertical light shaft running the full height of the building to counterbalance the downtown lights."

Residents also will have private garages.

"Everyone has a private garage within the garage," Cheng said. "It is a traditional garage where you park in open-floor plan, but it is created with a garage door so no one can see whether you're home or not or ding up your car. You can even use the garage for storage."

Cheng said the garage is enclosed with limited access.