CARMEL, IN  Woolpert has been contracted by Anderson Birkla Investment Partners to design The Proscenium, a $60 million mixed-use development in the Carmel City Center.

Named for its gateway position at the south entrance of the city's downtown district, The Proscenium is located near the corner of Carmel Drive and Rangeline Road.

Anderson Birkla's 6.5-acre development will include 225 luxury one- and two-bedroom residential units and accompanying amenitiesfrom a fitness club to bike centers and pedestrian plazas to a coffee bardesigned to appeal to the walkability and social needs of the millennial generation.

The Proscenium also will have 20,000 square feet of retail space and 60,000 square feet for office use, centered on 1.8 acres of public green space. A podium-style parking garage will be built beneath the development to maximize amenities, while retaining utility and accessibility.

"Prominent entrances to the site will reveal an amenity intended for the enjoyment of both development residents and the Carmel communitythe Town Greena place for gathering, events, relaxation and fun," said Tony Martin, Woolpert Design Director. "On the south side of the Green, a tavern will be situated to adjoin and overlook the green and to activate the development with night life and leisure opportunities."

Martin said Woolpert worked closely with Anderson Birkla to ascertain the developer's vision and translate it into a working design and development. He also looked carefully at the city's architecture before creating his plans for The Proscenium, in an effort to enhance existing Carmel city developments.

"In conceiving the architectural vocabulary for this project, we sought to reinforce the development of traditional and neoclassical aesthetics in Carmel, while blending classically proportioned contemporary facades with historical ones," Martin said. "Thereby, we could create a varied and dynamic aesthetic that speaks to the passage of time and appeals to a variety of tastes and uses."

Martin added that Woolperta national architecture, engineering and geospatial firmbenefits from having multiple architects on staff who specialize in retail, residential and/or office development.

"Our design team features expertise in planning and the range of uses vital to successful mixed-use developments," he said. "In Carmel, we've applied passion and thoughtfulness to the design of this development, which will add vibrancy and density to the south end of Carmel's downtown district."

Construction on The Proscenium will begin this fall and is expected to take 18 months to 24 months to complete.