The Fred Apartments
Edina, MN
Project Scope
“The Fred” is an 8-story, 525,000 SF apartment community with 408 units, developed by Solhem Companies, with AEC partners BKV Group Architects, ERA Structural Engineering, and Weis Builders.
Adjacent to the 40-acre Fred Richards Park, the property blends natural surroundings with urban convenience, offering residents a rare sense of escape within the metro. Designed to maximize natural light and connection to the outdoors, every unit extends into open-air living—whether through expansive private balconies or shared amenity spaces overlooking woodland trails and creeks.
Project Challenges
Developer:
Solhem Companies
Architect:
BKV Group
General Contractor:
Weis Builders, Inc.
Structural Engineer
ERA Structural Engineering
Size
408 units
523,000 SF
Building Type
Podium wrap multifamily
apartments
# of Balconies
372
Year Completed
2023
Specified for Design. Engineered for Scale.
Attachment details were coordinated early with ERA Structural Engineering and precast supplier Molin Concrete, resolving knife plate locations before panels left the factory. That upstream alignment maintained waterproofing continuity and prevented detailing conflicts in the field.
Beyond the balconies, Superior supplied site railings for The Fred’s community amenity areas. One manufacturer, one coordinated exterior metals package.
The result
The Fred earned a 2024 NAIOP Award of Excellence. Superior balconies are a defining feature of the exterior: clean profiles, consistent finish, and a presence that reads as part of the architecture rather than an addition.
372 balconies. Mixed glass and picket infill across a complex, multi-wing facade. A custom structural solution for the corner units. One coordinated exterior metals package — balconies, railings, and community site railings — in a unified finish that carries through the full outdoor experience.
Each AEC partner benefited from repeatable quality, streamlined coordination, and precise design detailing across every balcony and railing system. Consistent quality, repeatable tolerances, and a single point of contact for the exterior metals package kept the project on track from specification through installation.
Every detail that made The Fred work — precise tolerances, coordinated attachments, consistent finish at scale — started at the specification stage. Superior's technical resources and design support are available from day one, to better bring your architectural vision to life.
Looking for a better way to earn CE credits?
Course Topic: Safe, Resilient, and Low-Maintenance Balconies for Multifamily Living
Earn AIA and GBCI credit(s) through Superior, free of charge.
BIM RESOURCES
Fast-track Superior Decks and Railings designs and specs into your master building plans. This complete technical library streamlines early coordination and prevents detailing issues, from design concept to build.
Complete 3D Revit assemblies include 20 SureSet™ HD Balcony configurations, with options for size, railing style, color, and connection details that drop right into your master building designs.
Design Resources: Download drawings and assemblies for balconies, railings, fencing and structural connections in DWG, DXF and PDF formats, plus a three-part specification for metal balconies (Division 05 Metals).
