When Toll Brothers Apartment Living started construction on the Julius apartment complex in downtown Stamford, Connecticut, the developer envisioned creating new residences with the health of its residents and a connection to nature front of mind.
To accomplish this, Toll Brothers designed the seven-story building with 354 units to provide a wellness-focused living experience in a highly walkable area. Located at 777 Summer St., Julius' proximity to public transit stops and pedestrian pathways, along with ample bicycle storage, helped achieve this goal.
Moreover, the building features biophilic design elements to play to the human desire to connect with nature and living things by incorporating natural materials, lush greenery and large outdoor spaces for residents.
To complement the wellness component, the development team made sure sustainability and energy efficiency were an integral part of Julius. To accomplish this, the management team said the building uses motion-sensor lighting in common areas to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. To ensure the project was financially healthy as well, the development team worked to balance efficiency with budget constraints by employing energy conservation features that were practical and meaningful.
After implementing an innovative digital-focused preleasing strategy with the help of property manager Bozzuto Management Co., Julius welcomed its first residents in September. The complex won the 2025 CoStar Impact Award for multifamily development of the year for Westchester/Southern Connecticut as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
About the project: Julius fosters a dynamic urban environment by integrating residential, retail and community spaces. The ground floor features a mix of retail spaces, including a boutique café and a wellness-focused coworking space. To attract a diverse range of retail businesses, flexible-lease terms and tenant improvement incentives were offered.
What the judges said: "State of the art features with a super amenity package that will attract the full range of demographics," said Tom LaPerch, an associate at brokerage Houlihan Lawrence.
They made it happen: Toll Brothers Apartment Living; Henry Diaz, property manager, Bozzuto; and Priscilla Garcia, regional manager, Bozzuto.