In competitive urban markets, the most valuable amenity spaces are not always the largest. They are the ones residents actually use, remember, and associate with the lifestyle value of the property.
At The Triangle in Downtown Redmond, Washington, Color Works Design transformed a dark, underused amenity floor into a sophisticated resident experience designed to support productivity, connection, and long-term retention. For ownership, the goal was not simply to refresh a dated interior. The goal was to unlock more value from an existing footprint and create an amenity environment that could compete with newer high-rise inventory in one of the region’s most active tech-driven markets.
Why Downtown Redmond Raised the Bar
Downtown Redmond continues to attract professionals who expect more from multifamily living than a fitness room and a lounge with a few sofas. With a growing population of technology professionals and remote or hybrid workers, residents are looking for spaces that support how they actually live during the day, after work, and on weekends.
That expectation created a clear opportunity at The Triangle. The property already had an amenity floor, but the space was enclosed, poorly lit, and underutilized. It was not delivering the level of perceived value needed in a competitive market where new developments are using lifestyle-driven amenities to shape leasing decisions and resident loyalty.
The challenge was not square footage. The challenge was impact.
The Property Challenge: An Underused Amenity Floor With Untapped Value
Ownership wanted to transform the amenity level into a signature experience that would resonate with residents, support community, and improve the property’s competitive position without requiring major structural changes.
The space presented several constraints. It had limited natural light, a compact footprint, and an enclosed layout that could have easily felt heavy or disconnected. The design needed to create a sense of discovery, offer real functionality, and make the floor feel intentional rather than tucked away.
For asset managers and ownership groups, these are the spaces that matter. Underused amenities still carry operational and capital costs. When they are not contributing to resident satisfaction, leasing perception, or retention, they represent missed value. Color Works Design approached the project with that business reality in mind.
The Strategy: Contrast, Function, and a Sense of Discovery
Color Works Design developed a contrast-driven amenity strategy that embraced the enclosed nature of the space rather than fighting against it.
The result was a 1920s-inspired speakeasy lounge hidden behind a custom-built doorway disguised as a bookshelf. That single design move changed the resident experience from ordinary to memorable. Instead of entering a standard amenity room, residents discover a hospitality-inspired environment that feels private, elevated, and unexpected.
Inside the lounge, rich dark finishes, layered textures, uplighting, and carefully placed lighting create a moody and sophisticated atmosphere. The space feels intimate without feeling unfinished, dramatic without feeling impractical. A fully appointed bar, built-in keg station, custom movable bar unit, and sleek glass shelving support both daily use and larger resident events.
Classic entertainment elements, including ski ball, add a playful layer that keeps the space approachable. The design does not rely on novelty alone. It balances refinement with usability, which is exactly what high-performing amenity spaces need to do.
Adjacent to the speakeasy, Color Works Design created a completely different spatial experience. Bright work-from-home suites and open lounge areas give residents places to focus, take calls, work outside their units, or shift into a more relaxed environment. Warm materials, strategic uplighting, and glass doors framing views of the Redmond cityscape help the space feel lighter, more open, and connected to its urban setting.
The final layer is a flexible clubroom with soft seating, an integrated kitchenette, and multipurpose tables that can support casual gatherings, game-day events, small group work, and resident programming. The floor now gives residents choices. They can work, gather, host, play, or retreat without leaving the building.
The Resident Experience: Work, Play, and Connection in One Floor
The strongest amenity spaces are designed around movement and mood.
At The Triangle, residents can move through the floor in a way that mirrors real life. A resident might spend the afternoon in a bright work suite, take a video call behind glass doors overlooking the city, then meet friends later behind the hidden bookshelf entrance for drinks and ski ball. On another evening, the clubroom might become the setting for a game-day gathering, casual conversation, or a quiet moment outside the apartment.
That range matters. Multifamily residents are not using buildings in one fixed way. They need focus, privacy, entertainment, and connection, often within the same day. The design at The Triangle gives residents more reasons to stay on property, more ways to use shared spaces, and more opportunities to build a sense of belonging.
For ownership, that experience has business value. When residents use the amenities, invite others into the space, associate the property with convenience and lifestyle, and feel connected to the community, the property has a stronger foundation for retention.
Why This Matters for Property Performance
Amenity design is not just an aesthetic decision. It is part of a property’s performance strategy.
At The Triangle, Color Works Design helped reposition an underused amenity level into a resident-facing asset that supports leasing perception, resident satisfaction, and long-term value. The transformation gave ownership a more competitive story in Downtown Redmond’s high-rise market while improving the usefulness of space already within the building.
The design supported several key outcomes:
Improved resident engagement through more relevant amenity programming
Stronger community connection through social, flexible, and hospitality-inspired spaces
Enhanced perceived value through elevated design details and a memorable experience
Better utilization of an existing enclosed footprint
Increased differentiation against newer high-rise competition
Retention support by giving residents more reasons to stay connected to the property
This is where strategic design becomes a business tool. The project did not require the property to become something entirely different. It required a clear understanding of the market, the resident profile, the existing constraints, and the ownership goals.
Reimagine the Value Already Inside Your Property
Underused amenity space does not have to stay underperforming. With the right design strategy, existing square footage can become a stronger leasing tool, a better resident experience, and a more compelling part of your asset story.
If your multifamily property has an amenity space that is not supporting resident satisfaction, retention, or market positioning, Color Works Design can help you identify the opportunity and turn it into measurable value.
Start a conversation with Color Works Design to reimagine your asset’s potential.
