the BLOC — A Collective Community
Story by Tracy Nicholson
Photography by Dan Francis Photography, AdShark, Kayla Goebel
With the demolition of an aging strip mall, Great States Development embarked on the rebuild of an entire city block along Fargo's South University Drive. Through a collaborative infill effort led by T.L. Stroh Architects, with interior design by Trever Hill Design, BLOC fuses old neighborhood tradition with new lifestyle amenities. Here, residents can enjoy tree-top views outside, a rooftop patio above, and the new home of Duane's House of Pizza and Pop's Soda Shack below — serving up a fresh slice of city life, with a side of nostalgia.
Walk Around the BLOC
When we first heard the demolition news, we collectively panicked, worried about what would happen to our beloved Duane’s House of Pizza. The building, at the edge of a well- worn strip mall, had been Duane’s home for nearly 50 years.
As folks worried about a relocation out of the neighborhood, its developers and architectural team were taking steps to ensure the hotspot stayed put, this time as part of a new community called BLOC. Duane’s is now just steps from its former location and the doorway to a new neighborhood companion, Pop’s Soda Shack.
BLOC Breakdown
With its 126 apartment homes, BLOC is part of the Collective collection of modern lifestyle communities built by Great States Construction, with architectural design by T.L. Stroh Architects and interior finishes and furnishings by Trever Hill Design.
To get the full tour, from golf simulator to rooftop patio, we met up with Trever and BLOC’s Community Manager, Carissa Wald.
BLOC is a pet-friendly community that welcomes residents to a generous list of amenities, including the convenience of on-site staff and two levels of underground heated parking. To break it down, BLOC’s first floor consists of a tenant lounge and leasing office, a golf simulator, enclosed parking, a dog run, and a mail and package room.
On the second floor, eye-level with the treetops, is a club room and rooftop patio, a fitness room, a mini mart, and a dog wash station. BLOC, like all Collective properties, does not have breed or weight restrictions for dogs.
While the third floor features a yoga room and a recovery room, the fourth floor provides a business center and office. On the fifth and final floor, BLOC has a second lounge and game room for residents.
The Club Room
Beyond Duane’s and Pop’s, the second-floor club room has quickly become one of BLOC’s most sought-after spaces—a welcoming retreat designed for everything from quiet evenings to community gatherings. The room features a full kitchen, a comfortable lounge, and direct access to the rooftop patio, creating a seamless indoor– outdoor experience.
“When we were choosing furnishings and finishes, we really thought about who would live here and how they would use the space,” Hill said.
“With the pizza parlor and soda shop below, BLOC has this great downtown energy, yet it’s nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood. Really, it’s a walkable community ideal for both young professionals or those downsizing and entering retirement, so we wanted a comfortable environment that all would feel excited to come home to. The team also showed me photos from places they’d toured across the U.S., which influenced our play with color, pattern, and detail.”
In the club room kitchen, Hill paired white-washed oak-style flooring and Smart Cabinetry with black hardware, ceramic tile, and quartz countertops. “I love the little moments of embroidered grasscloth wallcovering and the various uses of tile,” he added. “Even in the bathrooms, we used distinct paint colors and unique tile selections to give each space its own personality — from rich terra cotta tones to soft blues.”
Home & Hearth
At the oversized fireplace, Hill selected an unfinished white oak mantel with a complementary surround of small-scale stone tile. “We chose the exaggerated micro river rock because we loved its subtle colors,” he said. “There’s so much texture and depth throughout the materials in this project. We intentionally focused on that to add character and reflect the warmth of the neighborhood.”
“You don’t see high-end finishes like this very often in apartment complexes,” said Wald. Throughout the build, Great States and Collective worked closely with Trever to coordinate a playful selection of tile, stone, textured wallcoverings, and neon lighting accents. This project marks the seventh design Trever has completed for the team, with lifestyle development projects spanning North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana.
“The club room is a space for residents to relax and hang out. They can also reserve this room and the patio to host birthdays or Super Bowl parties,” added Wald. “Thanks to Trever, we have a lot of really nice outdoor seating.”
“When we’re designing outdoor spaces, I like to make sure there are plenty of individual seating and dining places,” said Hill. “The patio is used by all BLOC residents, so a variety of seating helps different groups feel as if they have their own space within the shared space.”
Live at BLOC
BLOC’s 126 apartment homes are custom-designed by T.L. Stroh in 16 distinct layouts, including one- and two-bedroom designs, with several studio options. All units are built to be soundproof to the exterior, featuring nine-foot ceilings, recessed lighting, and expansive windows to capture views from every angle. Sizes range from a 570-square-foot one-bath studio to a 1,090-square- foot two-bedroom two-bath unit, all of which include stainless steel appliances, fiber internet, oversized cabinets, central air, and an in-unit washer/dryer.
Within the units, Trever collaborated with Great States to create a variety of unique surroundings, including unfinished oak floating shelves, a picket- style backsplash tile, and quartz islands with two-sided seating. The islands were crafted by Builders Direct, with quartz from Fabricators Unlimited. The bathrooms have custom-sized and designed smart LED mirrors with dimmable and anti-fog features.
Community Integration
“At the start, there was some concern from residents about the complex blocking the view, but now that it’s finished, we haven’t had any complaints,” said Wald. “The residents seem to really appreciate how beautiful the building has turned out. In the back, facing the neighborhood, we also made some improvements by redoing the grass. Compared to the old strip mall, which was pretty run down, BLOC has really cleaned up the area.”
Considering both sides of the building, from quiet residential to busy street, T.L. Stroh’s design ensured neighborhood and BLOC residents liked what they saw and heard. “Facing the challenge of a high-traffic artery in Fargo, the design prioritized community integration and noise abatement,” explained Terry Stroh, T.L. Stroh Architects. “Rather than presenting a monolithic barrier, the building employs a strategic U-shaped configuration. The long spine of the ‘U’ runs parallel to the busy road, maximizing sound buffering for the interior courtyard. Crucially, the two shorter ends of the ‘U’ turn inward and face the existing residences on the west side. This architectural move serves to significantly reduce the building’s perceived mass and scale on the residential side, offering a more welcoming and appropriate transition for the neighborhood while still providing much-needed housing.”
Duane’s House of Pizza
Already thriving in its new building on the same home block, Duane’s House of Pizza steps confidently into its next 50 years. “There was a lot of history in that building, so we were really thankful that they decided to stay and call BLOC home,” said Hannah Savoy, Director of Marketing for Collective & Great States. “We knew it was a really special place in the community, and it’s been amazing to see the success they’ve already had. They did a great job and have some good callbacks to their first place, so it has a really elevated feel.” If you’re new to Duane’s, try out one of my family’s favorites, the cupping pepperoni and hot honey pizza.
Pop’s Soda Shack
Pop’s Soda Shack, which opened its doors in November 2025, became the second Shack location outside of its hometown of Dickinson, ND. Led with love by the mother-daughter team of Taylor Jones and Lori Ludwig, Pop’s is the perfect complement to BLOC and Duane’s, offering a well-curated drink menu and small-bite menu of breakfast sandwiches, pretzel bites, and cookies for eat-in or drive- through. Try out their signature dirty sodas, sparkling waters, plant-based energy drinks, iced/hot coffees, gourmet hot chocolate, or build-your-own sodas — with the option of purees, creams, fruits, or popping boba.
“BLOC’s location is ideal, you’re just a few blocks from Lindenwood Park and downtown, or you can hop on interstate and be at Costco, Scheels, or Target in no time,” added Wald. “There’s also a hospital and Hornbacher’s grocery store within walking distance. This is one of the only apartment buildings in the neighborhood, so BLOC residents feel like they are truly part of a community — it’s a really unique place to live.
FOR MORE INFORMATION,CONTACT:
BLOC | Collective
1621 S University Dr. | Fargo, ND
701.707.1414
liveatcollective.com/bloc
FB: Collective
Insta: liveat_collective
T.L. Stroh Architects
8 Seventh St. N. | Fargo, ND
701.239.4198
tlstroh.com
FB: TL Stroh Architects and Interiors
Trever Hill Design
701.715.3077
treverhilldesign.com
FB: Trever Hill Design
Insta: treverhilldesign