Union on 6th Apartments – Tucson, USA

The Union on 6th is a brand new apartment complex in downtown Tucson, comprising two buildings. This building completely transformed an iconic city block in the Historic Fourth Avenue district, so they focused on authentic design that nods to the past while bringing in fresh energy to the area.

Fourth Avenue is an area of Tucson that has a lot of history and nostalgia attached to it. Because the Union on 6th brings a significant change to the area, many people were originally very opposed to the project. Previously home to iconic bars and lounges like PLUSH and the Flycatcher, many Tucsonans in the neighborhood were reluctant about losing some of their favorite establishments and embracing a big change for the block. One of their biggest challenges with this project was making sure it blended in with its environment, respected the history of the area, and won over the approval of the existing residents in the neighborhood.

Many of the people who will be living in the Union on 6th are University of Arizona Students, so they also needed to find a way to connect to Gen Z and make the spaces appeal to their tastes. They needed to make sure the spaces in the building had authentic, community-focused energy rather than feeling like a corporate space, but working with a large investment company meant that they needed to find a way to blend these opposing sides together. Their ultimate goal was to breathe new life into space, creating areas that are forward thinking and fresh while remaining respectful of the history and small-town feel of Historic Fourth Avenue.

Their design aims to breathe soul, spirit, music, and fun into every floor and common space of the Union on the 6th. This project consists of two buildings: one with five stories, and one with seven stories.
Include lobbies, indoor and outdoor community gathering spaces as well as serene work and study spaces throughout the building, and apartments.