Humboldt Ridge Apartments

Arched windows, angular designs in the brick façade and iron Juliet balconies adorn the Humboldt Ridge Apartments. These design elements might be found in San Juan more often than in Humboldt Park. However, these architectural touches, intended to honor the Latino heritage of the community, have helped to earn Fitzgerald and Associates and LR Development Company first place in the 2003 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Architectural Excellence in Community Design. Located on two 1.5-acre parcels in the 1800 block of North St. Louis Avenue, the Humboldt Ridge Apartments is comprised of 10 three-story, earth-tone brick buildings. Each parcel includes four 12-unit buildings and one three-flat, for a total of 100 units of affordable rental housing. The design of the façades of each building is enhanced with asymmetrical brick and limestone details. By incorporating culturally-themed design into the architecture, the Humboldt Ridge Apartments not only pay homage to the Latino community in which it was constructed, it serves as an example to all architects and development companies of the importance of culture and history in developing new buildings.