Staff Reports | Community Updates
Intersection Development, in partnership with Räkkhaus Studio, has completed its Rainbow Road project at 1030 N. First Ave. in Phoenix.
The design draws inspiration from Nintendo’s Mario Kart Rainbow Road track, incorporating color, movement, and geometric patterns into a contemporary building, according to a press release.
“Rainbow Road is a reminder that cities don’t have to be neutral. They can be playful, imaginative, and alive,” said Zac Cohen, creative director at Räkkhaus. “In Roosevelt Row, we merged color, movement, and geometry into a living urban experience — a building that doesn’t just exist, but invites people to pause, reflect, and feel something.”
The building features a 12-sided geometric footprint, creating a shifting visual profile from different angles. Its black exterior contrasts with window insets painted in the Rainbow Road color sequence — red, yellow, green, cyan and blue — giving the façade a sense of animation.
Inside, a rainbow-colored lobby ceiling installation designed by Räkkhaus and fabricated by Phoenix-based Porter Barn Wood serves as a focal point. Outside, a sidewalk art overlay inspired by the Rainbow Road gradient was designed by Räkkhaus and installed by Glendale-based Creative Paving.
The ground floor includes retail spaces, a restaurant and a fitness studio. Custom bike racks and benches, fabricated by local artisan Spectacle Works, echo the track’s geometry and feature accent colors from the Rainbow Road palette.
The building offers 36 apartments, each with a unique layout and color tone inspired by Mario Kart. Floors are color-coded to create a vertical sequence of environments. Units incorporate noise-reduction features, natural light, and smart home technology.
Found in the city’s Arts District, Rainbow Road connects residents to restaurants, shops and cultural landmarks. The development includes public outdoor space intended to foster community engagement.
