Mill Creek Residential’s Modera Scottsdale and Modera Reserve in Scottsdale, Arizona, are striking new additions to the Scottsdale housing market. The development consists of two communities with architecturally interconnected mid-rise buildings totaling over 253,000 square feet and offering 438 apartment homes. Approximately 14,891 square feet of ground-floor retail space supports economic vitality and promotes walkability in the surrounding area. This urban infill development also promotes reduced dependence on single-occupancy vehicles by providing proximity to local businesses and public transit.

Mill Creek partnered with ArtLifting to feature artwork by artists with disabilities in its signature lobby spaces, reflecting the company’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) values.

The Modera Scottsdale and Modera Reserve projects created over $5,900 in income for three artists with disabilities. To date, Mill Creek Residential’s socially impactful art programs have created over $9,100 in income for six ArtLifting artists.

This partnership exemplifies Mill Creek’s investment in the “S” of ESG — partnering with ArtLifting to create meaningful opportunities for artists with disabilities, while enriching residents’ everyday experiences through impactful, original artwork.

“Our collaboration with ArtLifting at Modera Scottsdale and Modera Reserve reflects how ESG values can show up in the built environment in authentic and measurable ways. These artworks are more than design elements—they are touchpoints of community connection, purpose, and representation.”

- Kelly Vickers, Vice President - ESG, Mill Creek Residential

A dynamic view of the reception area shows the 6-by-17-foot Hutchman 31 wallcovering as the centerpiece behind the curved white desk.

At Modera Scottsdale and Modera Reserve, two large-scale custom wallcoverings — one in each residential building — demonstrate how high-end residential design can intersect with social impact and placemaking. Each artwork was selected for its visual contribution to the space and the artist’s powerful story.

One building lobby was designed to evoke elegance, warmth, and quiet sophistication. Featuring neutral tones, materials, and sculptural forms, the artwork supports a sophisticated high-end design.

To bring movement and depth to the newly designed space, Mill Creek Residential commissioned a 16-by-17-foot custom wallcovering of Hutchman 31 by Pennsylvania-based artist Jacob Brown who creates using salvaged materials and repurposed art supplies. The large-scale reproduction of this painting complements the lobby’s serene environment and adds another dimension of sustainability to the community.

“The work I make is a direct reflection of the physical limitations caused by my spastic cerebral palsy. Although my paintings are flat objects, the subject is very much the technical narrative of creating with a handicap. In this way, each painting becomes a totem of my own cerebral palsy."

- Jacob Brown, ArtLifting Artist.

The second lobby was designed with a bolder aesthetic, calling for equally dynamic artwork. To meet this vision, ArtLifting created a custom collage combining two artworks into one striking design that is abstract in style and inspired by the colors and textures of the Arizona landscape.

The wallcovering, measuring approximately 19-by-17-feet, merges Color Me Textured by Georgia-based artist Yvette and Canyonlands Mesa by Tucson, Arizona–based artist Alisha Clarke. Together, their work anchors the lobby in vibrant energy, layered meaning, and emotional resonance.

Yvette, a veteran who spent over two decades in the U.S. Army, reconnected with painting after retiring from service. Her intuitive process begins with music and is shaped by dreams, mood, and family. Her abstract work is emotionally rich and deeply personal.

"Painting is what keeps me going. It reminds me that I am not limited due to my disabilities but the world is my canvas and I can paint every story I feel.” 

- Yvette, ArtLifting Artist.

Complementing Yvette’s artwork is Canyonlands Mesa, a digitally altered landscape by local artist Alisha Clarke. Based in Tucson, Alisha transforms her photography into emotional narratives — digitally painting with light, color, and form to evoke the feeling of a place rather than a specific moment. After facing a life-altering diagnosis of blood cancer, Alisha turned to art as a source of purpose and healing.

Alisha’s inclusion in the project simultaneously honors her creative voice as a local artist and celebrates the Arizona landscape that inspires her practice. The collaboration between Yvette and Alisha provides a focal point where stories, perspectives, and talents converge. The wallcovering transforms the concierge area into a point of connection, inviting residents to engage with their surroundings and the deeper narratives woven into the building’s fabric.

"It gives me a lot of joy to know that my artwork will be enjoyed by others and gives me the encouragement I need to keep pursuing my art.” 

- Alisha Clarke, ArtLifting Artist

Modera Scottsdale and Modera Reserve builds on an ongoing partnership between Mill Creek Residential and ArtLifting, grounded in shared values and a commitment to social impact and inclusive design. After working together on several communities, this project marks a deeper level of art integration — moving to large-scale art solutions tailored to the building’s identity.

Our approach reflects a strategic application of Mill Creek’s ESG goals, particularly the “S” component. By commissioning custom wallcoverings from ArtLifting artists with disabilities, Mill Creek created economic opportunity and professional recognition for three talented artists with disabilities. 

For residents, the result is a beautiful environment enriched by artwork, personal stories, and a stronger sense of connection. With Modera Scottsdale and Modera Reserve, Mill Creek proves that working alongside partners like ArtLifting can make the “S” in ESG measurable and deeply felt by the community.

About Mill Creek Residential

Mill Creek Residential is a national rental housing company focused on developing, acquiring, and operating rental communities in targeted markets nationwide. The national company, headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, proactively develops, acquires, constructs, and operates communities through its seasoned team of real estate professionals in offices across the United States. Mill Creek is building its portfolio in many of the nation’s most desirable markets in Seattle, Portland, the San Francisco Bay area, Sacramento, Southern California, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Austin, Houston, South Florida, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Raleigh, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, New York, and Boston. As of March 31, 2025, the company’s portfolio comprises 152 communities representing over 44,000 rental homes operating or under construction. For more information, please visit MillCreekPlaces.com.

Images

1. Banner: A modern lobby features a 19-by-17-foot wallcovering spanning behind a wooden reception desk. The artwork merges Color Me Textured by Yvette and Canyonlands Mesa by Alisha Clarke, creating a vivid, layered composition of red, blue, white, and earth tones that evokes both organic textures and abstract landscapes.

2. A sophisticated lobby features a 6-by-17-foot custom wallcovering of Hutchman 31 by Jacob Brown, installed behind a sculptural white reception desk. The wallcovering showcases swirling brown and copper tones over a creamy white backdrop, resembling organic patterns of rust or mineral formations, framed by light wood panels.

3. A wider view of the bright, contemporary lobby shows the dramatic wallcovering blending Color Me Textured and Canyonlands Mesa behind the reception area.

4. A side view of the bright, open lobby shows the striking 6-by-17-foot Hutchman 31 wallcovering stretching along the back wall next to tall glass doors.

5. A stylish seating area in a modern lobby highlights the expansive 19-by-17-foot wallcovering merging works by Yvette and Clarke. Plush chairs, a green sofa, and sculptural light fixtures sit in the foreground, while the vibrant, textured wallcovering in red, blue, white, and earthy hues anchors the back of the room.


© All photos by DavidMadisonPhotography.com.