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.
Superior Products Specified
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?
You and your team can earn AIA and GBCI credit(s) through Superior, free of charge.
BIM RESOURCES
Fast-track Superior Decks and Railings specs into your master building design with a full suite of 2D drawings and 3D balcony assemblies, structural connections, and complete 3-part specs. This technical library streamlines early coordination and prevents detailing issues, from design concept to build.
Design resources: Revit 3D balcony assemblies, 2D balcony & railings drawings, structural connections in .dwg, .dxf and .pdf, 3-part design spec - class 5 metals.
