Early 20th Century Urban Apartments - Then and Now

Did you know that the “disappearing” Murphy Bed was invented as a response to rapid growth in cities, and the need to house more people in less space, during the early 20th century? Salt Lake City underwent a similar population surge at that time, resulting in an “urban apartment” construction boom. Approximately 200 of these buildings were constructed in similar styles between 1902 and 1930 in SLC, and many remain standing today. Come learn about the architecture and social history behind this new type of housing, which was designed to fill a need in the quickly growing city, and how it compares to today’s current wave of building apartments. The second part of this presentation will dive into some project case studies, highlighting the historic preservation and financial motivations that have triggered rehabilitation of these urban apartments in recent years.