Project Data:

Completion Date:     11/9/2025

Square Footage:      718733

Building Use:           Residential Mixed Use - Apartments, Café, restaurant and parking garage

Project Description:

American River One is a mixed use development located in the river district in Sacramento, CA adjacent to the American River. This project embraces biophilic design principles throughout the concept design with multiple levels of elevated gardens from its expansive amenity deck to the multiple sky gardens.

The project embraces its location along the American River connecting the resident to nature and the urban downtown Sacramento context in how the massing provides multiple view corridors which allows light and air to flow through the site. The urban design approach with the varying massing scales and public spaces starts at the street and how pedestrian oriented program is at the core of the design.  A pedestrian spine leads you to the amenity deck and views to the river.

The building plans are shaped from a diversity of properly scales exterior courtyards and spaces which provide a mix of amenity programs. The plans are organized in 4 building massing's which tapper down as they extend toward the river and terminate vertically to promote distant views through this site. The plan organization promotes equity to as many units as possible in providing views to nature and views to downtown in this dynamic site location which will transform the neighborhood for future development.

On three acres in a low-rise commercial zone, a surface parking lot is being redeveloped into four residential towers above a two-story garage podium. The project addresses the market with a range of apartment sizes, open areas, retail space and connections to local bike trails. The towers range from 11 to 18 stories, with an array of decks at different levels.

The design concept is centered around the human experience and how this development will promote community within and be connected to its surrounding as future development continues to transform this neighborhood.
The project concept design started with a simple idea of creating vibrant public spaces from the moment you enter the site to a series of pedestrian spaces organized through each of the towers and the scale of spaces designed for the amenity spaces on the podium and sky gardens. The design has a strong pedestrian orient street frontage, with a dedicated bike path to the river levee and is planning to integrate public art.

The existing site has a very limited ecosystem with limited landscape as this was a previously developed site. The landscape design creates a new ecosystem with a diversity of plant species which encourages habitat and pollinator gardens which builds off the river natural ecosystem. Lighting was designed to comply with dark sky standards
The building is designed as an all electric building for carbon neutrality. The PV systems were maximized on the roof as a fifth facade to celebrate these features as the building identity.  Centralized electric hot water systems integrated with solar thermal systems on the roof further reduce the overall energy demand. High performance VRF mechanical systems which are integrated with natural ventilation throughout the residential and retail spaces reduce energy use.

Framework for Design Excellence

Design for Integration - The project developed a strong set of guiding principles which were a centered around reconnecting Sacramento’s residents the river. The design concept is centered around the human experience and how this development will promote community within and be connected to its surrounding as future development continues to transform this neighborhood.

Design for Equitable Communities - The project concept design started with a simple idea of creating vibrant public spaces from the moment you enter the site to a series of pedestrian spaces organized through each of the towers and the scale of spaces designed for the amenity spaces on the podium and sky gardens. The design has a strong pedestrian orient street frontage, with a dedicated bike path to the river levee and is planning to integrate public art.

Design For EcoSystems - The existing site has a very limited ecosystem with limited landscape as this was a previously developed site. The landscape design creates a new ecosystem with a diversity of plant species which encourages habitat and pollinator gardens which builds off the river natural ecosystem. Lighting was designed to comply with dark sky standards

Design for Water - The site integrates storm water management on its elevated roof decks with bioretention and filtration basins.

Design for Economy – One of the design approaches is to shift cost from building systems to a high performance façade design which reduces the energy use by reducing solar heat gain across the building facades.

Design for Energy - The building is designed as an all electric building for carbon neutrality. The PV systems were maximized on the roof as a fifth facade to celebrate these features as the building identity.  Centralized electric hot water systems integrated with solar thermal systems on the roof further reduce the overall energy demand. High performance VRF mechanical systems which are integrated with natural ventilation throughout the residential and retail spaces reduce energy use.

Design for Wellbeing - the building does include operable windows in regularly occupied spaces and has incorporated exterior shade elements to reduce solar heat gain.

Design for Resources - The approach was to expose the primary structure as much as possible to reduce the amount of materials on the project. The exterior cast in place concrete structure would utilize a limestone cement concrete mix to reduce carbon.  

Design for Discovery -  throughout the site and building there will be educational signage which aligns with a river ecology.

Firm Name:              LPA

Completion Date:     11/9/2025

Square Footage:      718733

Building Use:           Residential Mixed Use - Apartments, Café, restaurant and parking garage

Location:                 450 Bercut Drive, Sacramento CA

Design Architect:
Matthew Porreca

Associate Architect or Firm:
Matthew Porreca, LPA
Julian Watt, LPA
Matthew Winter, LPA
Ifrane Brennan, LPA
Kevin Concolino, LPA
Francesca Redetzke, LPA

Landscape Architect:
Rocio Gertler, LPA
Kenya Huezo, LPA

Owner / Developer:
IM Investment

Engineer:
Jay Radke, NV5 (Civil)

General Contractor:
N/A

Consultant:
N/A

Photographer:
N/A