The 27-story high-rise offers modern apartments, condos and resort-style amenities in the heart of the Bull City
By Caleb LeJeune
The Novus, a 27-story residential tower rising above Five Points, represents the newest chapter in downtown’s continued growth. Developed by Austin Lawrence Partners, which bought the property in 2013, the high-rise blends upscale living with community-focused design and welcomed its first residents in July. The building includes 188 apartments and 54 condominiums. As of early fall, renters had leased 25% of the apartment homes and buyers had purchased more than 85% of the condos.
Building Up the Bull City
“The word ‘novus’ in Latin means ‘new, fresh and extraordinary,’” says Jane Hills, ALP’s co-founder and partner, “and that’s everything we brought to downtown Durham with the tower’s debut. This word and our understanding of what the tower would be influenced the creative development process.”
The team at ALP spent time engaging with nearby residents to better understand the neighborhood’s needs and priorities as it embarked on the multimillion-dollar development. The developers curated the building’s retail offerings based on that feedback, emphasizing health and wellness. Current tenants include Revel, Solidcore and Dose Yoga + Smoothie Bar, the latter of which is under construction with an anticipated opening this fall.
“We’re in discussion with primarily restaurants for the building’s corner space,” says ALP Partner and Director of Investments Zach Prager. “It has a massive outdoor patio, which we’re excited about because there’s not a lot of outdoor space in downtown Durham. We’re really trying to focus on curating the retail for our residents and for downtown.”
Many of the property’s management team members live on-site, offering residents direct access to staff and fostering a sense of connection. “It’s not like we’re landlords sitting thousands of miles away,” Zach says.
The Novus honors Durham’s architectural heritage through its classic brick-and-glass design. Above the seventh floor, the structure’s staggered silhouette helps it blend more naturally into the city’s skyline.
Upscale Amenities
The Novus’ apartment homes range from a little more than 500 to nearly 2,000 square feet with a rent of between $1,800 to $8,000 a month; its 2,000-square-foot condos are priced between $500,000 and $5 million. Each unit features modern quartz countertops, custom Italian wood cabinetry, a private balcony, spa-inspired facilities and abundant natural light.
The seventh floor serves as the heart of the building, offering a mix of entertainment, wellness and relaxation spaces. Residents can enjoy a game room, golf simulator, putting green, outdoor theater overlooking the American Tobacco Campus and covered clubroom space. The building also includes an outdoor dog park and nearly 450 parking spaces, with 120 designated for public use.
Health and wellness amenities include a full fitness center, yoga room, treatment suite and outdoor pickleball court. The resort-style pool deck – which can accommodate close to 300 people – features a lap lane, infinity hot tub, plunge pool, wet steam room, 24 lounge chairs – plus two table chair sets and four sofa table and chair sets – and 12 shaded cabanas.
The floor’s coworking space offers residents an alternative area to work without distraction or even invite coworkers to the property for off-site meetings. The space includes communal desks, two conference rooms and several soundproof booths for virtual meetings.
Connecting With the Community
“The Novus’ design evolved from the inside out,” Jane says. “With this tower, we unveil an elevated lifestyle; exceptional amenities for the mind, body and spirit to inspire; a space to experience joy and live life to the fullest; high-end luxury finishes and a home where interesting residences, friends and families convene.”
The Novus integrates itself into the local business ecosystem through a private mobile app that connects residents to nearby retailers, restaurants and service providers such as Bella Trio Studio, Bull City Pet Care and Nikos. From its early planning stages, the project aimed to build meaningful connections among its residents and the downtown community. “You want to live downtown for the downtown,” Zach says. “At the end of the day, we’re right in the middle of it – it’s our home.”
Click here to learn more about The Novus’ apartments and condos.
