Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Statement of Purpose: This high-end apartment community consists of roughly 300 units and some retail space on the first floor.
The scope of the landscape architect included design of the streetscape on three sides of the project, two interior courtyards and a
rooftop deck. Central Avenue, on the north side of the property, is one of the main thoroughfares through downtown St. Petersburg.
Tropicana Field, a large stadium where the Rays play baseball, is located immediately across 1st Avenue South to the south of the site.
The goal for the project was to create a community that offers everything a
young professional would need for convenience and to minimize vehicular trips.
The project had to stand out above their competition to support the rental rates
and attract a more sophisticated renter.
This project was designed to be a combination of design styles and materials.
Located in downtown St. Petersburg, FL, which is an artistic, eclectic area with
modern and historic features, the project brings together urban, industrial and
contemporary elements resulting in a playful, eclectic project that has been
successful in attracting young professions. The brand is communicated through
the name of the project, marketing publications and the design of everything
inside and outside of the building. The tag line for the project was “Expect the
Unexpected”.
The interior amenities include an oversized lobby that connects to a bar and casual seating space, a WiFi café, a conference room, a
billiards room and a gourmet kitchen. There is also a wine “closet” with spaces for residents to rent for keeping wine, a health club, a
spa facility and a small gathering space for meeting up with friends. Much time was spent coordinating the interior and exterior
designs so some of the same materials were used inside and out, views were capitalized upon and the style of design was consistent.
The exterior amenities included a swimming pool and spa in one courtyard, a sculpture garden in the other courtyard and an outdoor
kitchen and sunning area on the rooftop deck. To create spaces that have a high impact, sculptures were used extensively as were a
mix of materials, colors, textures and forms that were consistent with the theme. This was a project where the landscape architect had
free reign to create non-traditional spaces, allowing for fun, somewhat whimsical designs to develop.
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Role of the Landscape Architect: The landscape architect was responsible
for design of everything outside the buildings. This included helping to
program activities and features that would be most attractive to the target
market. Scope of work included design, bidding and negotiations,
construction documents and construction observation.
On a site this tight, a great deal of coordination had to occur between the
landscape architect, architect, interior designer, as well as structural and civil
engineers. There were numerous challenges on this project too that required
particularly close communications.
Sculptures were used to give this project an artistic and unique character.
The sculpture designs were developed as a group effort between the
landscape architect, developer and sculptor with who the landscape
architect had worked with on two previous projects.
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Challenges – The first challenge was how to deal with an existing canal that traversed the vacant property. The canal was
approximately 25’ below the proposed finish floor elevation. Significant structural elements were built to provide access to the
City of St. Petersburg in case debris were to get lodged under the future building. Because of the large concrete structure below, a
very large portion of the courtyard above could not have planting or any heavy elements on it. This was a challenge for the
landscape architect to make the courtyard pedestrian friendly without using any plantings or heavy elements.
Another challenge was that the two courtyards were quite small to accommodate a swimming pool with 50’ dimensions for laps,
hot tub and other elements needed to attract the target market. A diagonal pool was designed to add interest , allow for 50’
swim areas and create a focal feature in the hot tub , around which the courtyard is oriented.
Solutions – The “Butterfly Garden” over the canal was designed with angles that parallel the retaining wall below. From that wall
to the building, seating areas were designed to allow for multiple uses of grilling, eating or relaxing. Small movable planters were
added with limited plantings, lights were hung to help define the space and hardscape materials were designed to visually break
up the large space in an eclectic manner. Hexagonal concrete blocks were used to mimic the historic downtown sidewalks.
Aluminum grating was used in a zigzag shape for interest in form, contrast, and function since it also serves as the drainage
mechanism for that portion of the courtyard.
Existing Canal with Structural Elements Added
Yellow Shading on Left Side
Represents Area of Canal Below
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
View of Central Avenue from Southeast with Tropicana Field to Left
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Existing colored concrete adjacent to property
(site in distance)
Project streetscape respects adjacent walks but offers a
more updated design consistent with the project theme
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
View of “Butterfly Courtyard” at dusk
2 of 3 Butterfly Sculptures in the “Butterfly
Garden” with Fog Beginning to Appear
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Aluminum Lighted Bench…
Another Unexpected Feature
View from Balcony over Primary
Courtyard Entrance from Lobby Area
Aluminum Steps and Railing Detail at
Raised Composite Decking
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
View of Courtyard Showing Area
Over Canal (Right Side)
Contemporary Planters add Interest
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Pool Courtyard with Red Planters for
Continuity and Interest
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
View of Spa Tower with Trellis Beyond
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Trellis Structure with Same Tiles as Pool Tile. Active
Paver Patterns Add to the Whimsical Character.
Recycled Glass and Mirror Paver Insert (10 Total)
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Mix of Industrial, Contemporary Materials
Internally Lit Spa Tower from
Entry Trellis
Waterfall at Spa
Red Planters add Visual Interest
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Outdoor Kitchen on Rooftop Deck
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
View of Downtown St. Petersburg from Rooftop Deck
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
View From Sunning Terrace toward Outdoor Kitchen
Fusion 1560 City Apartment Homes
St. Petersburg, FL
Custom Concrete Countertop with Pattern Made
From Recycled Glass and Mother of Pearl. Fiber
Optic Lighting was Incorporated Into Countertop
for Nighttime Twinkling Effect.