ATLANTA—Multifamily developers are looking for a competitive edge—and design features are among them. At the same time, retail design is evolving before our eyes.

GlobeSt.com turned to Kevin Cantley, president and CEO of Cooper Carry, to get his thoughts on what multifamily amenities will be popular in 2015 and what the future of retail will look like in part three of this exclusive interview. You can still read part one: Design Firms Set for Big Growth in '15 and part two, How Workplace Design is Evolving. Be sure to come back Monday morning for the final installment, in which Cantley will share how he sees hospitality design changing to accommodate Millennials.

GlobeSt.com: Multifamily has been the darling of commercial real estate for several years. What popular amenities do you foresee for 2015?

Cantley: Although we have recently seen an increasing quantity and quality of on-site amenities, developers have a unique opportunity to minimize some of those construction and maintenance costs by focusing on the existing features of a particular neighborhood. With the ongoing trend toward urban infill projects, one critical amenity is access to the many attractions a city has to offer.

Convenience is also going to be a driving factor in new developments. Millennials and Baby Boomers alike crave easy access to services and entertainment, so proximity to transit, as well as features such as 24-hour concierge services and very high-speed Internet access, are likely to become the norm in new class A properties. Other popular amenities include dedicated spaces where residents can conduct business meetings; collaborative space for more interaction; an offering of several cable or satellite providers; a greener environment; and higher-end appliances, lighting and flooring. Having retail, dining, and service providers close to home is of increasing importance.

Cantley:  There's been talk about what the future of retail will look like, such as the traditional, enclosed malls versus experiential, mixed-use properties. What influencers are affecting the future of retail? 

Cantley: Retail responds to demographics more than anything else. Shifting demographics in a market will dictate the type retail that will be most viable.

With a demographic shift come changes in traffic patterns, densification of an area, or, in some cases, a reduction in density. We have seen an uptick in both mixed-use and urban retail projects, and each one is being designed to appeal to specific demographics.

The urban projects on which Cooper Carry is working tend to be turning themselves “inside out.” In other words, we are redesigning the malls to have outward facing retail, restaurants and services. Active street-level retail encourages a more walkable, urban lifestyle.