DESIGNING FOR MILLENNIALS

According to Building and Developer magazine, millennials have become the fastest-growing segment of the housing and rental market, with an estimate of 2 million new households per year, peaking at around 40 million dwellings in 2025.² With those estimates, building professionals had better understand the wants and needs of this demographic.

So, what are those wants and needs? And how can architects, designers, and developers best accommodate them? And, in the context of this course, what role can extruded aluminum trim play in helping to meet those wants and needs?

While there are many different housing design trends associated with the Millennial demographic, the trends that stand out emphasize small, light spaces that are very flexible when it comes to moving and redecorating, and that can be used for at-home work. In addition, they value designs that incorporate socially responsible materials and that easily foster community-gathering opportunities, and so multifamily residential projects need to be designed with out-of-the-box thinking to creatively meet those needs.

Small, light spaces that are easy to move into and out of—and easy to redecorate—are beginning to define the millennial design trend of personalization. This often includes custom interiors, and may include mixing and matching decorating styles to get that uniquely designed space.³ Extruded aluminum trim provides an excellent material to meet this trend, especially in projects with drywall interiors. Designers can achieve an industrial look with clear anodized aluminum trim profiles, or they can use brightly colored trim to highlight a building-wide color scheme in a common area, all within a reasonable budget.

Millennial multi-residential spaces are often compact and minimalist. Extruded aluminum trim can add a unique style, especially when used with mixed surfaces.

Flexibility doesn’t just lend itself to decorating. Another trend is that living spaces should be functional and flexible, all while providing spaces that make community easy to achieve. Paired with this trend is a modern design aesthetic. In multifamily housing projects, this approach can mean rethinking traditional amenities and spaces both in the individual units and in common areas to address the needs of residents who telecommute. For example, individual apartments or condominium units may be designed with defined work nooks, or with built-in features that double as a desk or counter. Common areas such as a laundry room can be designed to double as a lounge or workspace—or both. This approach can be used throughout a building, with even administrative areas being used for different purposes after hours, or outdoor spaces incorporating amenities for group cooking and eating with grills and communal tables. Socially responsible, nontoxic materials are in high regard with this demographic, whether used for indoor or outdoor purposes. Aluminum most certainly fits into this category, and it can help achieve a LEED v4 certification.

In terms of urban multifamily residential properties, the millennial generation is known to be comfortable moving more frequently than past generations. For many, this is simple necessity: a better job opens up across town, and they want to be able to walk to work rather than drive or commute by transit. Or perhaps a new condo development is built that is more affordable or has more amenities.

Regardless of the space, the overall look that millennials value is often clean, simple, and modern. And extruded aluminum trim can provide a design aesthetic—whatever it may be—all while protecting corners and edges from the wear and tear of tenants moving in and out, of space sharing (think Airbnb), and of residents frequently redecorating to personalize the space.

UNIQUE SHAPES AND DESIGNS OF EXTRUDED ALUMINUM TRIM PROFILES

One of the design benefits of extruded aluminum trim is that it can be manufactured into unique shapes and designs, thus offering interior designers a wide array of creative approaches to enhancing drywall surfaces. While finishes may vary between manufactures, the examples presented below are all made from 6063–T5 aluminum with standard clear or anodized primed finish. Anodized color and powder-coating finishes are available with custom color matching.

This sidebar will feature some of the more unusual shapes and show how and where they can be used in a multifamily residential project.

A “reveal V” profile creates a unique shadow line with a V-shaped reveal space that allows installation vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. When used with ⁵/₈-inch drywall, the reveal can change the basic, flat surface into an interesting, unique design that can enhance the style of the space.

“Base projecting reveals” are available in round and square shapes, and both profiles create a combination reveal and projecting detail line at the bottom of the wall just above the floor surface or at the top of the wall just below the ceiling. Both the round and square edge add a classic and refined detail to the surface.

The “base reveal flange” is a uniquely detailed profile that creates a recessed base at the bottom of a wall just about the floor surface or just below the ceiling surface. This profile is different from other base reveals in that it adds a decorative element (the flange) to the design and can help draw attention to the trim as a feature in the room.

Corner profiles are another way interior designers can creatively enhance drywall surfaces while simultaneously protecting vulnerable corners from the wear and tear of building occupants. For example, “corner elliptical” profiles can be used as a design feature for vertical and horizontal (for fur-down applications) drywall or panel corners.

Finally, “two-piece systems” can be used to add design features to drywall. Designers can use these systems to create a unique look on interiors where drywall is the primary surface. For example, a blade rectangular round can be combined with a channel reveal. This unique blade projection system creates a distinct visual aesthetic that works well in just about any space. The system has ridged faces for taping and floating with drywall installation.

Extruded aluminum trim can be produced in a wide range of profiles, with some of them offering a unique look to a space. Two-piece systems, such as a channel and a tapered square edge, can create a dynamic look when paired together.

A final unique profile that is used for ceiling design is the “knife edge,” which creates a sharp look at ceiling drywall terminations. The look is clean and crisp, and the profile allows for LED lighting or a shadow line. The profile can be used in conjunction with ⁵/₈-inch drywall, as well as panel installation and wrapped surface finishes.