Creating Lasting Communities Through Art and Design with Ginny Hightower

Dot Dot Dot: The NINE dot ARTS Podcast
Episode 75

Through a series of delightful stories and fresh insight, this episode explores how to achieve resident satisfaction in the evolving landscape of multifamily living. Ginny Hightower, Vice President of Design Management at Mill Creek Residential, discusses how every design choice should be informed by ongoing resident feedback and trends that promote healthy, engaged lifestyles. Though some trends are fleeting, Ginny emphasizes how the multifamily industry is increasingly adopting hotel-like amenities, catering to residents who seek comfortable, vibrant living environments that are welcoming and hospitable. She also shares Mill Creek’s aim to prioritize family-oriented values and needs, ensuring that thoughtful design enhances the overall living experience for all types of tenants. 

The conversation also highlights the importance of streamlining processes and partnerships during development to create efficiencies, connection, and cohesion across art, design, architecture, and other critical elements. Lastly, Ginny and Martha reflect on collaborations between Mill Creek Residential and NINE dot ARTS and how art was used not as a decoration, but as a tool for shaping a property’s identity and distinguishing it from competitors. 

Discussed in the Episode: 
Mill Creek Residential
Modera 
Modera Cherry Creek
Modera LoHi
Art Collection at Modera LoHi
Amavi
Beckett
Alister
Ginny Hightower on LinkedIn

About Ginny Hightower:
Ginny Hightower serves as Vice President of Design Management for Mill Creek Residential’s multifamily portfolio, where she is responsible for leading the national Design Management team focusing on efficiency, cross-regional collaboration, and best practices. She also maintains active engagement in the Texas and Mountain States regions, managing all aspects of Interior Design from concept design through the completion of construction. Additional responsibilities include providing input on community and apartment home amenity programming, leading the selection process for interior design consultants, and interfacing with on-site construction teams as well as Operations and Marketing department members for lease-up strategy.

Prior to joining Mill Creek, Ginny launched and operated her own practice focusing on single-family residential and hospitality design. As a sole-practitioner, she designed hotels across the United States for hospitality groups such as Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Prior to starting her company, she worked for Rottet Studio, a multi-disciplinary architecture and design firm. During her tenure with Rottet Studio, she designed and managed the installations of the flagship Pendry Hotel in San Diego, California and the two Four Season Hotels in Bogotá, Colombia.

Ginny holds an Associate of the Arts – Interior Design from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles and a Bachelor of Arts – American Studies & Spanish from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She is a co-founder of the Silver Lake Community Church Food Pantry in Los Angeles, a Management Committee member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), and a youth group leader to high school students at her church in Houston.

About Dot Dot Dot: The NINE dot ARTS Podcast:
Dot Dot Dot is the continuing conversation around art in the built environment. Episodes explore art, culture, placemaking, and more with a range of reputable art and business leaders. Tune in biweekly to learn how an original art experience can boost your business and make a positive social impact. Episodes are available wherever you get your podcasts!