Multifamily Apartment Construction in Amarillo

Dumas had two apartment complexes under construction in mid-2024, according to a July 2024 local report, along with three new elementary schools and a new hospital opened in 2021. Housing tends to follow employers, and the Panhandle's employers are not only in Amarillo. When a plant, a school district or a hospital district grows, apartments are a natural next question.

We build apartments for developers and owners in Amarillo and the towns around it: garden-style communities, townhome clusters, mid-rise buildings and renovations of older complexes. The unit count and the unit mix are set by a developer's model, and our job is to deliver that model at a price that still works after the soil report comes back.

A pro forma looks simple on paper and breaks on site. Utilities cost more than expected, a drainage pond takes a lot of land, and the clay beneath a slab moves. We try to find those problems early, before the lender does.

The City of Amarillo approved nearly $3 million in July 2026 for about 14,000 feet of 12-inch water pipe near North Western Street and West Hastings Avenue, to support northwest growth of more than 1,000 new homes and multiple businesses. For an apartment developer, a line like that decides where land is buildable and when. A parcel with water, sewer and street access is worth much more than a similar parcel waiting on a main extension.

Streets matter too. The city approved $16 million for Osage Street from 34th to 58th Street, a two-year project. A corridor that is under construction for two years changes access, noise and leasing. We read the city's capital plans with every developer and flag where public work will touch a site.

Garden-style apartments are the workhorse: two and three-story wood-frame buildings around parking, with a clubhouse, a pool and amenities. Townhome clusters use a similar frame with private entries. Mid-rise buildings use a concrete or steel base with wood or steel above. We also take on renovations of aging complexes, including roofs, siding, units and common areas.

Each building type has its own sequence. Garden-style builds in a repeated rhythm: foundation, framing, roof, rough-in and finish, building by building, so that a leasing office can turn units on a schedule. For buildings with parking below, our podium and wrap construction page explains that more complex path, and for housing aimed at older adults, see senior living construction.

Apartments reward repetition. We build a crew path through the site: foundations first, then framing, then roofs and weather protection, then the interior trades in a line. Each trade finishes a building and moves to the next. That keeps crews busy and gives the developer certificates of occupancy in phases, so rent can start before the last building is done.

Site work gets equal attention. Grading, utilities, paving and drainage can be a third of the cost. Site development and utilities is how we handle that package, and we phase it so the first buildings have access, power and water while later phases are still being graded. Wind is part of the plan too: framed walls are braced and sheathed quickly, and we do not leave open framing standing over a weekend.

Amenities deserve a plan of their own. A clubhouse, pool, fitness room and mail area are small buildings with commercial-grade mechanical and plumbing, and they are the first thing a prospective tenant sees. We build the amenity package early enough that a leasing team can show it, and we keep the pool schedule tied to the weather, since plastering and filling a pool in a cold snap invites trouble.

Cost per unit is driven by site work, foundations, framing, mechanical and finishes. In this region, foundations and drainage often surprise a developer. Clay soils may need engineered slabs, and playa-adjacent land may need detention and floodplain permits. Roofing is another place to spend carefully, since the hail history means a cheap roof can become an insurance problem.

Energy code also affects cost. The Texas State Energy Conservation Office says it continues to use the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code for commercial, industrial and residential buildings taller than three stories, and Amarillo's adopted set also includes the 2015 energy code. We build to the version that applies to your building height and confirm with the city. Insulation, windows and HVAC are priced against that standard.

Apartment buildings are generally reviewed under the commercial building code, not the residential code that covers houses and townhomes. The City of Amarillo adopted the 2021 Building Code, Fire Code, Mechanical Code and Plumbing Code in October 2023, effective January 2024. Fire separations between units, egress, sprinklers and accessibility are the main review items.

Accessibility is a separate track. Projects of $50,000 or more are submitted to the state's accessibility program, and multifamily buildings carry requirements for accessible units and routes. Electrical work requires confirmation of the National Electrical Code edition, since the city's published page is inconsistent. We handle each of these before permit submittal, and we keep inspectors on schedule for framing, fire stopping and final.

Most of our apartment clients are multifamily developers and owners who hold property for the long term. Many hand management to property management firms after completion, and we prepare the turnover package with those teams in mind: warranties, manuals, attic stock and unit keys.

For the building category, see multifamily and mixed-use buildings. For a smaller-market example of apartment growth, our Dumas page describes how a northern Panhandle town is adding housing.

Send the unit mix, the site and the budget target. We will test it against utilities, soils and drainage and tell you what has to change if the numbers do not hold.

How many stories can I build in wood frame?

That depends on the building code, the fire separation and sprinkler design. Many garden-style projects are three stories. Mid-rise buildings often use a concrete base with wood above, which our podium page covers. Your architect will set the limits, and we price the choices.

Does the energy code change for taller buildings?

The state energy office says it continues to use the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code for commercial, industrial and residential buildings taller than three stories. The city's adopted set also lists the 2015 energy code. We confirm the edition for your building and build to it.

What does a drainage pond do to my unit count?

It can reduce it, because the pond takes land. Detention size depends on the site and the rules that apply. We run the numbers in feasibility so you know the land that remains for buildings.

Can you phase a large apartment project?

Yes. We plan utilities, paving and drainage for the full site, then build in phases so early buildings can open and begin earning rent. Phasing reduces the carrying cost of construction.