With architecture by MVE and Partners, Inc. and construction by Trammell Crow Residential, Bluwater Crossing is a new mixed-use, TOD community, offering 51 live/ work lofts, 15 town lofts and 12 affordable units in addition to the 21,000 square feet of street-level retail/commercial space.

Recently, the community received two 2010 Gold Nugget Merit Awards for Best Mixed-Use and Residential Attached Community of the Year. "MVE and Partners is committed to creating living environments that are pedestrian-oriented and sustainable," said Darin Schoolmeester, AIA, LEED AP and NCARB, principal of MVE & Partners, Inc.

Designed with the residents in mind, the flexible and comfortable community allows for local entrepreneurship with the live/work lofts; with no commute,

The community not only promotes outdoor activity with easy beach access just 900 feet from the Pacific Ocean, but the site's location maximizes coolness from the ocean winds, ultimately saving residents money on utility bills, while roll-up doors on the ground-level lofts and energy-smart hydronic heating and cooling systems also add to the savings. The location places residents just a short walk from the Coaster station, a commuter train that runs 41.1 miles along the Central and Northern coastal regions of San Diego County that further reduces residents' carbon footprint.

Overall, Bluwater Crossing serves as a prime example of the continuing design trends of the future, as foreseen by MVE, which includes transit-oriented development in suburban areas, turn-key lifestyle in multifamily attached buildings, open layouts and residents working from home. "Bluwater Crossing is an example

MVE & Partners developed a strong partnership with their client, Trammell Crow Residential, to envision and execute the best creative and time-effective design solutions for Bluwater Crossing. However, as a result of the economy and the housing market, Trammell Crow Residential, a private real estate development firm with more than 30 years experience in the industry and a focus on mixed-use developments, has not been involved in the community for about four months now since the builder's partner and lender McCrorey Bank took over the project. With the affordable units full, the bank has currently been leasing the other 66 units and plans to sell the units once the market rebounds.

Although MVE & Partners has seen projects put on hold due to the economy, like many others in the industry, the architecture firm sees recent signs of recovery, as several projects made progress. The firm continues to explore new opportunities in the international and public sectors and to expand and diversify its portfolio through the rest of 2010.

"In the midst of a volatile economy, MVE and Partners remains committed to the pursuit of creative ideas, which result in the most innovative and sustainable community design," responded Schoolmeester.

"MVE's diverse portfolio of work has been critical in the successful design of mixeduse developments, like Bluwater, and it will continue to be the backbone of our leadership in the design industry."

Kristen Eichenmuller is the editor at Builder and Developer magazine and may be contacted at keichenmuller@penpubinc.com.