First "Smart" Apartment Complex Opening in Forest Lake, MN
"Our initial response from residents that are living in our smart apartments has been overwhelmingly positive," says Norhart president Mike Kaeding. "We built Gateway Green for the generation that loves their technology and is also seeking community.
FOREST LAKE, MN—Norhart, a Forest Lake construction and management company, is expecting to open Gateway Green, its first fully integrated “smart” apartment complex in Forest Lake, MN, this week.
Built over the past nine months, the 84-unit apartment building has state of the art technology built into all aspects of the apartment’s amenities allowing the renters control over their lights, thermostat, doors, electricity, gas, water and more. Residents will be able to control and program these features to their custom preferences allowing them to receive notifications ranging from when the front door is opened to programming light settings on morning alarms.
It’s Norhart’s second apartment complex equipped with smart technology. The firm’s Emberwood Apartments in Blaine, MN, installed “Internet of Things” functionality into the newest 30% of apartments.
Residents from the Emberwood apartments report that their new awareness of utility usage not only saves time, but money as they are able to turn off lights or turn down apartment temperatures from the convenience of their phone.
“Our initial response from residents that are living in our smart apartments has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Norhart president Mike Kaeding. “We built Gateway Green for the generation that loves their technology and is also seeking community. Our apartment complex offers a pet spa, fitness center, game room, community room, and underground parking garage. Our company culture is focused on providing our residents the best quality of life. Achieving this through technology while being environmentally friendly is important to our business and the communities we serve.”
All 84 units of the Gateway Green apartment complex are equipped with high speed internet. Residents choose from three connectivity options and service is available on the first day they move into the apartment. Gateway Green is also the first Norhart complex that will offer one-bedroom apartments. Existing Norhart Forest Lake apartments are two- and three-bedroom apartments.