Building a better podium

Podium construction (also referred to as one-plus-five or five-over-one) has become the predominant typology for new multi-family construction in Salt Lake City over the past decade.⁴ Its low-cost construction has made it popular with developers due to its high return on investment and with city planners as a rapid method to increase housing stock.²⁶ It is also attractive to buyers and renters as it allows relatively affordable living in new apartments.² However, this typology lacks regionalist or site-specific design considerations and is mainly driven by provisions in the International Building Code.²⁶ ²⁷ ²⁸ In light of the June 2021 Surfside condominium collapse, what does the future hold regarding the longevity of these structures as well as what ways can the podium building typology be modified using affordable methods to incorporate regionalist and environmental architecture?