commercial interiors Archives

Study This: Banko Design Aces Student Housing Development, Relato Apartments

A bold, colorful off-campus multifamily housing development inspired by the traditions and culture of a big-time university.

Marietta, Georgia-based with projects nationwide. Unmatched interior design from start to finishes.

Just outside the campus of Indiana University Bloomington, the student-geared Relato Apartments development is one for the books. Our challenge with this space was not one uncommon for college town apartment complexes: create a space that resonated with the buzz of student life, but didn’t alienate prospective non-student renters.

With Relato Apartments, our client was relatively new to the multifamily development sector, and needed a partner with the right expertise to create broad appeal and score wins in an uber competitive real estate market. We passed the test with flying, fun, and unforgettable colors.

SPORTS AT THE CENTER

Inspired by IU’s rich tradition of athletics and school spirit, our concept fused a timeless retro sports aesthetic with the modern amenities young renters crave. Outfitted with subtle nods to Indiana University, the design elements tastefully reflected campus culture without dipping too deep into Hoosierdom. Careful curation was everything. This kept the door open for potential non-students, welcoming them with vibrant and versatile living and community spaces.

The nostalgic sports narrative was strengthened by cheeky neon signage and pop art mounted against collegiate red brick. Corridors were consistent with a ‘track’ motif, creating a fun flow of movement. In the lounge, a custom whiteboard mural full of IU symbols and graphics gave renters a canvas for creativity. Beneath the mural, our team manufactured plywood ‘bleachers’ to round out the retro athletics aesthetic.

The concept was unmistakably bold yet perfect for renters in this exciting stage of life, catering to both students and young professionals alike. Throughout regular meetings with our clients, we ensured their vision remained central to the project, stayed on top of student housing market trends, and provided the direction to implement strategies to maximize the development’s appeal and marketability.

AGE APPROPRIATE

Success hinged on creating a memorable living space that felt fun but not juvenile. Evoking nostalgia gave Relato a sense of refinement. The varsity-inspired accents and elevated lounge areas juxtaposed with playful light fixtures and an arcade nook featuring Pacman solidified this vision. The color choices and bold, contemporary art created a poppy polish within the amenity spaces and leasing offices.

The off-campus housing development was replete with modern amenities that simply meant more to this demographic. This included a Recording Room, where residents could create social media content, record a podcast, or take a virtual class or meeting behind a lush velvet curtain (fun and functional). Even the state-of-the-art gym stayed consistent with the retro sports vibe, its entryway lined with old school lockers adorned with local sports memorabilia.

Knowing study space (or remote working space) would be prime real estate for prospective residents, our team dreamed up a number of cozy nooks with strategically placed noise-reducing baffles. Chic but dependable communal tables in each nook provided the sturdiness to study and the space to spread. The nooks made for studious sanctuaries and confines for coffee and conversation. Either way, a darn good place to pull an all-nighter.

RELATO AND RELEVANT

Relato Apartments is a testament to carrying out a vision that sparks with an audience. In this case, Relato’s relevancy to IU students and young renters stems from its retro-inspired look and modern amenities. This certainly bold design – something we never shy away from – has everything they’re looking for while being enticing to look at (and live in).

That’s no happy accident. Our smarts and savvy went into every accessory and amenity, from the neon to the nooks. And now, renters have a place they’re proud to call their Hoosier home.

And, we’re excited to announce that this project recently won the prestigious 2024 Design Excellence Award, Bronze, from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Georgia Chapter, in the Contract Multifamily category.

Whether building student apartments or exploring modern multifamily housing designs, the Banko Design team can help bring your development dreams to life.

Looking to develop the next multifamily masterpiece? Reach out to us at business_development@bankodesign.com, and let’s get started!

Keywords: commercial interior design, commercial real estate, student housing interior design, Atlanta interior design, 2024 interior design trends, commercial interior design studio, multifamily interior design, Indiana interior design, student housing,

“Resi-mercial Design”: How Banko Design Makes Commercial Spaces Feel Like Home

At banko design, we’ve perfected translating the residential into the commercial.

Marietta, Georgia-based with projects nationwide. Unmatched interior design from start to finishes.

Developers, do you ever struggle to make your spaces feel “at home” while you balance the performance needs of your commercial interiors? You’re not alone. You want everything from your fixtures, furniture and floors to stand out—that’s how you’ll draw customers—but, you need these pieces to be functional and continue to perform over time even with regular traffic.

So how does one give soul to a commercial space? That’s where our team comes in. Almost a decade ago, our Principal and Founder Melissa Banko coined the term “resi-mercial” to describe that in-between space where comfort meets quality. The resi-mercial space infuses residential touches with human-scaled furniture across multifamily communities, boutique hotels, senior living spaces and more, unlocking a new understanding of coziness in commercial spaces.

The beauty of this approach is in its interior design selections, from finishes to furniture and accessories. Everything is curated to inject the space with life, personality and a “lived-in” quality, making it feel like it’s someone’s carefully maintained home. The process is an art and a science that we not only developed, we perfected.

We give our clients a commercial interior solution that’s not cookie-cutter commercial. Just smart cookie.

THE RIGHT MIX

Let’s break down “resi-mercial” and why each piece matters.

Dorothy knew what she was talking about. There’s no place like home. That feeling is essential. People feel good in places that have warmth and feel welcoming.
Elements of interior design feel more quality. They’re more curated and cared for, and people can tell the difference from something that feels cold and “commercial,” especially in a new-build setting.
People live in your spaces. If the residential vibe is missing, folks will quickly look for somewhere more inviting and comfy.

“Mercial” = Commercial

The interior design needs to withstand commercial use. That means high traffic, heavy use, commercial-grade cleaning, and everyday living.
The space must also act like a contract space (because it is one). We can’t get away with many of the architectural “shortcuts” that a residential project may have.

You can’t sacrifice too much of either or the space will underwhelm. At Banko Design, we implement the impeccable: fabrics that don’t feel cheap or plasticky, but are still cleanable or bleachable; lighting that is soft, appropriate and inviting, but still functional and bright enough to see; flooring that looks like it’s part of a fine home, but is a cinch to clean. And it has to have spark. Banko Design spaces are all about not just looking the part, but feeling it too.

OUR RESI-MERCIAL RESUME

The proof is in the pudding. Here are a few resi-mercial success stories in the real world.

The Church Hill Village is an assisted living and memory care community in Newtown, CT. When it comes to Senior Living, the resi-mercial touch is especially important for a number of parties. First, of course, the residents. But it’ll certainly make an impression on the caregivers and family members who may be making decisions on behalf of a loved one.

Our design approach for Church Hill Village was to bring a chic family cottage feel to this brand new building, which sits in part of the site’s farmland. The decor was infused with farmers market finds and freshened up with some modern flair. Add on a custom oversized quilt at the entry made by a local artisan, quirky vintage accessories, pastoral artwork, and “cottagecore”-inspired drapery patterns, and the resi-mercial recipe made Church Hill feel like home.

Our work with Cadence at Olney, a senior living community in Olney, MD, was all about neo-classic coziness. From warm brick walls to terracotta tile flooring, we outfitted the community while staying true to the authenticity of the area. Millwork detailing, comfy leather-look seating, multiple fireplaces, judge’s paneling, even porcelain china-inspired artworks were included to drive the point home. This community feels like Thanksgiving dinner with the whole family without sacrificing senior-friendly design concepts.

Our furniture line with Fairfield captures the timeless beauty of residential furniture with added accessibility features. The line lends itself perfectly to senior living comfort design, but is contemporary enough to be a crowd favorite anywhere.

THE RARITY OF RESI-MERCIAL

Since the “aha!” moment, when we realized there was a huge void between residential and commercial design only few could fill, we’ve taken the helm as leaders in the “resi-mercial” sphere. In a lot of ways, it’s been our calling card over the past decade. To this day, no one does it like we do. Our passion for residential design’s attention to detail is conveyed in a way that works in favor of developers, REITs and real estate investors (not to mention their bottom lines).

We’re ready and excited to work with you. Interior design of any space is a serious investment, so we’ll make the most of any budget.

Ready to join the resi-mercial revolution? Reach out to us at business_development@bankodesign.com, and let’s live it up.

Keywords: commercial interior design, commercial real estate, senior living interior design, Atlanta interior design, 2024 interior design trends, commercial interior design studio, multifamily interior design, hospitality interior design