Tod Elkins
Principal and project manager at UrbanWorks Architecture
As the son of an art teacher and an urban planner, Tod Elkins may have seemed destined to become an architect.
Elkins spent the first eight years of his career working on the coasts before settling in Minnesota in 1988. He worked for a couple of Twin Cities firms, including the Cuningham Group. He and colleagues left to launch Minneapolis-based UrbanWorks Architecture in 2005. The firm specializes in urban design and is active in the dynamic multifamily housing market. In the recession, UrbanWorks diversified into public design work.
His work ranges from designing Rainforest Cafes at Disney World to a floating casino in the Gulf of Mexico to apartments in the Twin Cities. The firm also designed the new Minneapolis School District headquarters.
Q How much of your work is multifamily?
A Probably three-quarters.
Q What are some cool apartment amenities?
A You're seeing smaller units in general, so there are more gathering spaces with the idea of hospitality amenities like gorgeous lobbies. There's also more inclusion of pets, so you might have a dog washing/grooming station. We're also seeing service amenities -- dog sitting, dog walking, dry-cleaning, grocery delivery, concierge services and "hour (rental) cars."
