Baker Barrios Architects’ Brad Lutz, Managing Principal of the Chicago office, sat down with the National Apartment Association to discuss how makers spaces can make a difference. Baker Barrios has developed specialized amenity spaces that cater to specific interests, such as a bike “kitchen” and media-focused spaces, including music studios and podcast rooms with audio and video equipment and other infrastructure, such as sound-deadening components. These areas are particularly appealing to younger generations, such as the “influencer” generation. For active adult uses, maker spaces have been a heavy part of the management and focused community programming: hosting creative social events, such as wine and painting, to reinforce and ultimately build a stronger sense of community.
They could host a number of creative activities, whether art- and painting-related or furniture assembly. These spaces are pretty easy to incorporate. They just need space and simple, durable finishes; things like concrete flooring and pegboards can provide this flexibility for a maker space.
Brad Lutz, Chicago Managing Principal
