How One Building Is Blending Technology And Community To Create A Unique Seattle Home

The rental market has become highly competitive as single-family home prices continue to rise. Last year, the Seattle rental market proved to be among the most aggressive in the country. Coupled with the city’s population growth of more than 20% since 2010, Seattle is experiencing elevated demand for rental housing with amenities and experiences that meet the expectations of today’s renters.

Chief among those amenities is a seamless WiFi experience throughout the building. Polls from groups like the National Multifamily Housing Council have found that fast, reliable broadband is one of the top priorities for multifamily renters in the U.S. There has also been an increased demand for homes to come equipped with the latest smart home technology, and developers are taking notice and working to bring tenants what they need.

Martin Selig Real Estate’s new mixed-use luxury residential development, The Modern, is one such property working to meet this demand by bringing Seattle something it hasn’t seen before.

“The Modern is a boutique offering with a contemporary flair,” said Jordan Selig, executive vice president at MSRE. “By Seattle standards, The Modern is unique. At only 216 residences, almost every home is on a corner and has unbeatable views of the city and Elliott Bay. The residential experience is vastly important to us. That’s why we decided to incorporate innovative technology throughout the building.”

MSRE specializes in creating custom workspaces for Seattle businesses. With more than 30 commercial properties in the Seattle area, The Modern is the company’s first residential project since its founding nearly 70 years ago.

The firm’s experience as commercial developers in the office space influenced its decision to make The Modern a home where residents can work and live. MSRE knew that it was essential for the building to have common areas where residents can collaborate and build a community.

The Modern was designed to have spacious living areas and a seamless WiFi connection, thanks to mesh networking incorporated throughout the building. Having a space to be able to work, uninterrupted, is vital, since nearly 60% of Americans work remotely.

Residents at The Modern have access to complementary smart home features like keyless door entry, smart lights and thermostats, and electric vehicle charging stations. MSRE incorporated these technologies into The Modern not only for convenience but in response to the strong demand from today’s renters to have a smart device in their home.

The Modern’s app, designed by Align Residential, is exclusively tailored to the needs of the building’s residents. As a fully integrated experience, users can easily coordinate their lives at The Modern.

“With the app, residents can put in work orders for any maintenance issues, view events and reserve classes in our fitness suite, which is equipped with the latest IoT-connected machines, or schedule package deliveries right to their home,” said Kelly Lombardi, vice president of Align Residential. “They can also pay rent, book services like a personal bartender, and make appointments for laundry and car wash services.”

Align Residential has been a strategic partner to MSRE, acting as a consultant during the development process and now serving as the leasing and operations team for the building. Including a lifestyle director, hospitality manager and resident mixologist, the team is committed to creating a sense of community for residents, Lombardi said.  

Fusing technology and community at The Modern has always been an important goal for MSRE. Immersing residents within the greater Seattle community, however, is also part of the firm’s strategy to create a unique living experience previously unknown to Seattle.

“Miro Tea, a popular Seattle tea room in the city, has designed a one-of-a-kind tea blend exclusively for our residents,” Selig said. “A notorious Washington winery, Chateau Ste. Michelle, has delicately crafted a house wine for the building, and we are partnering with Le Labo to create a signature scent for The Modern.”

This article was produced in collaboration between Studio B and Martin Selig Real Estate. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

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