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DECEMBER 2017 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 31
design teams creating more walking and bike paths
as well as larger outdoor community spaces. The
Hidden Lake Homes project in Westminster serves as
an example that includes a two-way fireplace in the
community area that integrates the interior with the
exterior and allows for about 45,000 square feet of com-
munity space through direct connections to the butter-
fly gardens, walking path and trellised patio.
Another trend includes the purposeful design of
smaller, private residential units clustered around a large
community space. This allows for neighbors to interact
more without all the amenities located inside their in-
dividual units to create a community within a commu-
nity. This is evident in the Golden Spike Apartments ren-
ovation, which we designed in Denver. Our team had the
opportunity to create a cohesive community with two
different floors for community space to cater to different
functions, such as a large living room, larger kitchen and
advantageous upper level views.
Overall, the goal of affordable housing is to design a
project that has the outward appearance of a market-rate
project. The challenge lies in finding ways to design
within these notoriously tight budgets and not sacrifice
quality. Our design team worked closely with the city of
Boulder to meet its stringent guidelines for setbacks on
the addition of front porches for the redesign of the Iris
Hawthorne community. This seemingly small touch has
provided the community with a way to connect with their
neighbors, with these single-family homes now seamless-
ly woven into the Old North Boulder neighborhood.
Affordable housing will continue to play a critical role
in the development of metro Denver and the Front Range.
The unprecedented growth brings to light that all people
deserve the opportunity to have a commendable place to
live. The AEC industry should be aware of the nuances of
affordable housing, all while blending with market-rate
housing for diverse neighborhoods, where everyone feels
a sense of pride in their home. \\
ELEMENTS Affordable Housing
Design trends influencing
this market sector include an
increase in senior affordable
housing, smaller residential
units but with larger
community spaces, and a
greater focus on the aesthetics
VISIONARIES EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
ONE PROJECT AT A TIME
AN EMPLOYEE OWNED, COLORADO CORPORATION