First three-story, single-stair project permitted in Austin, Texas
Integrating new forms of attainable housing into the downtown neighborhood is critical to maintaining the vitality and energy that makes Austin, Texas, such a great place to live. Ashram is the first three-story, single-stair project permitted in Austin under the city's 2021 building code adjustment, based on the International Building Code (IBC).
The simple concept of this six-unit apartment complex celebrates an open central stair that forms an inviting entry and divides the building into two discrete volumes. Limited to a 4,400-sf lot, the project prioritizes sustainability and efficiency by taking advantage of existing infrastructure already serving the central city.
Large north-facing windows afford ample daylight without undue solar heat gain. Restrained detailing throughout the units creates a simple and serene complex that breathes life into the street and the city. Ashram Multifamily is the first three-story, single-stair project permitted since Austin abandoned its prohibition of the configuration in 2021, demonstrating the power of innovation in addressing Austin’s housing shortage.
Single-Stair Multifamily Development
This type of development unlocks the potential for small local developers, often established members of the Austin community, to have an impact. This existing connection enables them to create a solution to the local housing crisis that is tailored to the needs and values of Austinites—something that large developments answering to out-of-state investors are challenged to accomplish. Jay Reddy, the developer of Ashram Multifamily, is a strong believer in the democratization of housing in Austin. A former member of the City of Austin Planning Commission, Reddy lives at Ashram with his family, making himself available to residents and enabling him to actively contribute to the community he helped build.
“During my time on the Planning Commission, I saw how outdated policies were limiting the kinds of housing Austin really needs. With Ashram, I wanted to show that small-scale housing could be both thoughtful and transformative. The single stair wasn’t just a policy change—it was a design opportunity. Working closely with Al York and the McKinney York team, we created a building that’s efficient, elegant, and rooted in community. Living here with my family, I see every day how good design can bring people together,” says Reddy. Through this project, he is modeling what he wants to see for the city’s future by developing housing that responds to how people live in the twenty-first century.
McKinney York Architects worked closely with Reddy to create a building that maximized rentable space and encouraged residents to form social connections. Ashram was originally designed with two staircases in the traditional multi-story apartment complex style. In 2021—midway through the design process—the City of Austin abandoned their previous prohibition on single-stair multifamily residential projects.
Three-story structures with a single staircase have always been permitted under the International Building Code (IBC), but until now, Austin had adopted an amendment that prohibited this typology. After this restriction was lifted, Principal Al York, FAIA, RID developed a new concept for Ashram predicated on the idea of a single stair.
“On a small lot, the ability to have only one staircase makes a huge difference in increasing rentable area. This in turn makes banks more likely to invest in the development, thereby improving the viability of small-site apartments as an urban infill strategy,” explains York.
Like most other lots in Austin’s downtown neighborhoods, Ashram’s site was previously zoned for single-family houses. However, lifestyle changes over the past few decades—like the reduction in average family size and the widespread movement of families to the suburbs—meant that low density, single-family housing was no longer the most effective use of this land.
Prior to the change in code, the only viable way to develop these residential lots was to gather several together to form a site large enough for a typical block apartment complex. Due to the financial and spatial constraints of this method of development, many of these lots remained underutilized and underdeveloped.
The single stair approach presents a solution to this problem by allowing designers and developers to attack the housing shortage in smaller increments. Small multifamily complexes also help avoid the monotony and lack of scale common in large block developments, instead offering compact designs that continue the pedestrian-friendly rhythm of the street.
The efficiency of a single stair residential building increases the number of units without disrupting the character of the neighborhood. By maintaining the variety and personality of the community, these developments add to the texture and vitality of the city. As a result, the walkable streets of these quiet, beautiful downtown neighborhoods retain the visual interest and welcoming atmosphere that makes them such an appealing place to live. At Ashram, close proximity to the Texas Capitol and downtown attractions encourages residents to explore on foot, further integrating their neighborhood with the city at large.
The utilization of the central staircase as a vertical slot breaks the project down into two slender upright masses. Rather than the solid, cubic structure typically seen in apartment buildings, the façade at Ashram is akin to that of traditional row houses, matching the existing scale on its street. The need for verticality with a limited footprint drove the form of the project, resulting in a pair of volumes that mirror the upright posture of passing pedestrians. Carefully selected, high quality construction materials enabled the design team to execute this minimalistic composition with crisp, clean detailing. Preserving the human scale of the neighborhood gives the building an inviting, approachable air that enhances the urban fabric.
On the Building Team
Architect: McKinney York Architects
Civil Engineer: Mahoney Engineering
Structural Engineer: Steinman Luevano Structures
MEP: ATS
General Contractor: Jay Reddy