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Dear Owners,

Below are the notes from the recent Design Committee Meeting where Duncan Weber presented their initial design concept for the renovation of our hallways. We hope you will review the pictures and notes from that presentation/discussion and share your thoughts with DW and the Committee via email at DesignComm@tkbonline.com.

Also, as discussed at the last Board Meeting, the Committee is embarking on the development of a recommendation for the renovation of our common rooms. There will be more about this in the coming months but encourage you to share your thoughts now on the best use of those spaces. Which of our rooms do you use the most? Do you have ideas of how they might better serve our residents? For example, would you prefer to have a dedicated business center for residents? A larger gym? A gathering place for teens? Share your ideas and priorities by sending an email to DesignComm@tkbonline.com.

We look forward to and encourage your participation as we create a Design Plan for the Towers of Key Biscayne’s next 50 years!

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TKB Design Committee
Notes from the January 28, 2021 Meeting
Committee Co-Chairs Norma Blum and Richard Michaelson

The TKB Design Committee met at 7:00pm via Zoom to review the project’s objectives and timeline, and to welcome Duncan Weber’s initial concept design for our hallway renovation.

Richard reminded the Committee and attendees that as part of the Budget process, there was a decision to postpone commencement of this project’s first phase construction until next year. Therefore, he recommended that the Committee merge the project’s three components – presenting a design proposal for the repainting of the building’s exteriors, renovation of the hallways, and renovation of the common rooms. With the goal of a proposal for the Board and owners to consider by the end of this year, we could coordinate the three elements and make a recommendation to our owners that incorporates a cohesive design plan.

Since hiring Duncan Weber, they have met with the Committee and Management to understand TKB priorities, challenges, and objectives. Tonight, they prefaced their slide presentation by noting that this is an early stage in the process and their objective is to get owners’ feedback to refine their design. Following Tom Weber’s review of the work done to date creating drawings and measurements of the building, James Duncan presented their initial vision for TKB. His objective is to build on the theme that we are on an island, next to the water. He envisions bringing that feel and those colors into our hallways.

Cautioning that the colors and lighting in these photographs may not be wholly accurate, he described a combination of American-made design components immensely practical for a high use property, such as commercial carpeting that brings in the color and patterns of the ocean and would wear well, be stain resistant, and easily replaceable; resin-based “wood” wainscoting and chair rail with color throughout to protect our walls without being susceptible to paint scratching.

• Wallpaper – The benefit of a vinyl grass cloth wallpaper for the upper half of the walls that would provide texture and character and be virtually impervious to damage. It’s ivory tones would facilitate the aesthetic connection to our lobbies and pool areas whose colors are not expected to change in the near term. He suggested a wood frame and wallpapering the AC Doors.
• Doors – Enhancing our honeycomb doors with high gloss black paint complimented by chrome doorknobs and locks that are ADA compliant and have a handsome modern look and feel.
• Lighting – Using a band of LED lights within a modified ceiling soffit to replace the current ceiling fixtures. Replace wall fixtures. augmented by wall sconces. Potentially adding pin lighting in the alcove of each unit.
• Artwork – The possibility of breaking up the walls with prints that draw upon island and beach themes (e.g. birds, sea life).

A recording of the Duncan Weber presentation, including pictures of the design components and comments from the ≈25 owners who attended is available by clicking on this link, as are additional pictures and their presentation. While there were many enthusiastic comments about the improved look a new design would bring and the general perception that this was a highly desirable updating of the Towers image, there were many questions about assorted details, colors, and materials. Several suggested the doors be navy blue rather than black, others whether we should include art on the walls, or whether we should have different lighting or different colors on the walls or carpets. James Duncan remarked that it was not realistic to expect that every element would appeal to every resident of the Towers, but their objective is to develop designs that will appeal to as many as possible within our budget realities and long-term maintenance challenges. To achieve that, the feedback from as many owners as possible is much appreciated both at the meeting, and by email after having had the opportunity to reflect upon it, as the ultimate design needs to reflect the taste and preferences of as many of our owners as possible.

Richard thanked everyone for their time and encouraged owners to share their thoughts not only on these initial hallway renovation design concepts, but also on the questions surrounding the best use of our common areas. We look forward to Duncan Weber and the Committee reflecting as much owner input through this process as is possible.

The meeting adjourned at 8:35pm

The Towers of Key Biscayne, Inc. | www.tkbonline.com