Milbrandt Architects’ David Vincent Talks Townhomes At Bisnow’s Puget Sound Multifamily Summit

As multifamily developers in the Pacific Northwest navigate rising costs and shifting regulations, many are rethinking how they approach their projects.

In recent years, townhome-style and garden-style projects have gained traction as an alternative to traditional podium construction, says David Vincent, managing principal and co-owner of Milbrandt Architects. The shift is both an opportunity and a challenge.

“Developers are looking for ways to adapt in a tougher environment,” added Vincent, who got his start on the construction side of the real estate business before transitioning to architecture and going from project manager to principal and co-owner of Milbrandt Architects alongside Anna Thompson.

“Having a working knowledge of construction helps me minimize miscommunication with local jurisdictions, consultants and contractors and meet client needs,” Vincent said. “I have an assurance of knowing how things should be built.”

Vincent will be one of the speakers at Bisnow’s Puget Sound Multifamily Summit on June 18. Bisnow spoke with him to get his take on what's driving design decisions in the current market and how his firm is adapting.

Bisnow: What are some of the trends you're seeing in the Puget Sound multifamily market?

Vincent: We are seeing a shift towards townhome and garden-style projects. Milbrandt has recently been asked to do more feasibility studies for these kinds of developments, with a focus on unit count. While we’re still working on some 5-over-2 podium projects, or five stories of wood-frame construction built on top of a two-story concrete podium, there is less of this kind of work. 

Bisnow: What are some of the top challenges the market is facing, particularly when it comes to multifamily development, and how are you working to overcome them?

Vincent: Jurisdictions have become more challenging than in the past.

For example, there are new energy requirements, such as the inclusion of exterior insulation or energy recovery ventilators, or ERVs, which are systems that exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air and transfer heat and moisture to improve energy efficiency.

These requirements are difficult to implement at first, but as they become the norm and processes become more streamlined, the rules tend to get updated again. For townhomes, however, the codes remain unclear in most jurisdictions. 

Projects in Pierce County have been a bit easier to work on, in terms of requirements, than places like Issaquah and Seattle.

Sites further outside the Seattle area are still relatively flat and open compared to the more densely populated areas. The latter tend to put a good deal more constraints on projects, since there are more voices weighing in on regulations.

When there are multiple stakeholders with diverging views, it slows things down and leaves projects in limbo.

Bisnow: What inspired you to attend this event?

Vincent: My partner Anna Thompson and I are committed to doing what we can to ensure the longevity of the firm on behalf of our employees. 

Recently, we attended another Bisnow event and noticed a few of the presenters were either our clients, consultants we work with, or our competitors and peers. We decided to put ourselves out there more to raise the visibility of the firm.   

Bisnow: What are you most looking forward to discussing with your fellow attendees? 

Vincent: I’m looking forward to connecting with peers in the multifamily industry, to hear about the challenges and issues they are seeing on the development front and what’s driving their decision-making. It’s a great group, and each person is going to bring a different angle to the discussion. I’m excited for the conversation, which is sure to be insightful.

This article was produced in collaboration between Milbrandt Architects and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.