Sometimes loft living isn’t about living above it all but amid it all.

Anyone who’s ever been to Kierland Commons has at some point probably cast a curious eye up at its towering condominium complex. Whether it’s done with envy (residents live at the mall!) or concern (residents live at the mall!) is not always clear, but one thing is certain: There’s nothing else in town quite like it. Sure, there are other mid- and high-rise projects, many of them quite nice. There are condos a stone’s throw from shopping centers, condos downtown and condos on various man-made waterfronts.

But, for the time being at least, there’s only one luxury loft project set in the middle of a 38-acre development with shopping, restaurants and offices. For the owners of the 84 units in The Plaza Lofts at Kierland Commons, that fact translates to some unique opportunities. “What’s really nice is taking the elevator down,” explains homeowner Cliff Paul, principal and co-founder of the structural engineering firm PK Associates. “I can hop on the elevator and go down to pretty much anything I want.” “Anything” might mean Jennifer Croll, he says, if he’s running short on evening attire come Friday night; or Zinc Bistro if he’s meeting up with friends. The potential scenarios seem endless.

Paul wasn’t the only one to recognize the convenience of such a lifestyle. The first of The Plaza Lofts’ two phases sold out in 30 days with little more than on-site advertising to recommend them. Residents of those 30 homes began moving in in 2005, and the second phase was completed this past spring. (The latter contains 54 units ranging from 1,100 to 2,800 square feet and the 3,300- to 3,900-sq.-ft. penthouse suites.) In addition to the usual lineup of amenities buyers have come to expect—private parking, a community room, a pool and whirlpool, an outdoor recreation area—The Plaza Lofts development incorporates thoughtful touches in individual units. Stackable sliding glass doors, for example, separate the private terraces from the homes, and niceties like oversize bathtubs and walk-in closets help soften the transition away from single-family dwelling.