MVE & Partners Designs Contemporary Living Community Next to Shopping Center
By Matthew Marin, Associate EditorIrvine, Calif.–Located near the 1.2-million-sq.-ft. Irvine Spectrum Center, the recently completed Village at Irvine Spectrum Center offers convenience to shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Locally based MVE & Partners Inc. planned and designed this mixed-use, apartment community, offering contemporary living options for nearly 3,000 young professionals.Situated on a 31.5-acre site, The…
By Matthew Marin, Associate EditorIrvine, Calif.–Located near the 1.2-million-sq.-ft. Irvine Spectrum Center, the recently completed Village at Irvine Spectrum Center offers convenience to shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Locally based MVE & Partners Inc. planned and designed this mixed-use, apartment community, offering contemporary living options for nearly 3,000 young professionals.Situated on a 31.5-acre site, The Village at Irvine Spectrum Center combines 1,550 apartments and 8,000 square feet of retail space in four distinct, four-story mixed-use districts developed by locally based The Irvine Co. The project is at Irvine Center Drive and the 405 Freeway, on a site that formerly was vacant land.”Creating vibrant communities is our intent as planners and architects,” says Rick Emsiek, AIA, president of MVE & Partners Inc., who has overseen the phased completion of the project since 2005. “Seeing this massive project come to completion is gratifying for our long-term client, as well as for us as designers.”MVE & Partners Inc. provided the blueprint for a variety of floor plans and amenities intended to meet a wide range of tastes and needs. The apartments include studios, one bedrooms, two bedrooms and townhomes ranging from 563 to 1,500 square feet. The apartments are within walking distance of the adjacent Irvine Spectrum Center, which features Nordstrom, Target and Macy’s, along with more than 120 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues, including a 6,400-seat, 21-screen movie theater with Orange County’s only IMAX theater.The four mixed-use districts are gathered around a central main street environment. To ensure the desired level of architectural diversity for a village-like setting, MVE & Partners arranged separate project teams to autonomously develop distinct characteristics for each neighborhood. A central main street is activated with retail uses and other community amenities. Adding to the pedestrian nature of the main street are diagonal parking, textured paving, street trees and furniture and townhomes that access the street with stoops and front doors. In addition, all residents of The Village enjoy a community recreation area and park. The Village at Irvine Spectrum Center also offers a multitude of amenities, such as six-themed clubhouses, business centers, post offices, leasing offices and a resident movie theater. Each neighborhood has its own pool with spas and recreation facilities. The Village Fitness Center consists of three community fitness centers, two tennis courts and a full basketball court.