CREJ

32 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / March 2020 Commercial Construction Facility Renovations Federal Construction Multi-family Housing b rya n c o n s t ru c t i o n . c om | 8 5 5 . 3 9 1 . 5 3 5 5 Colorado Springs | Fort Collins | Denver | Istanbul Building with PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE Every. Time. Bal Seal Engineering ELEMENTS Money-Saving Design Money-Saving Design is a Win-Win for Multifamily Developers W hen a developer is planning to build a for-sale or for-rent multifamily property, there are many cost-saving design-solutions that can be implemented from start to finish. Knowledgeable and experienced ar- chitects and planners know where to look for creative approaches that can shave sub- stantial costs fromaproject’sbottomlineand increase profits. Beloware a fewexamples. Density. The cost of land and entitle- ment fees have skyrocketed during the past few years, in some places as much as 20% to 30%. And, while there’s little to noth- ing a developer – nor its architect – can do to control these costs, much can be done with regard to how the land is used. Take full advantage of the allotted space – the smaller the footprint of a building or unit, the more units you can fit on a parcel of land to help the project “pencil out.” Current ordinances and anti-growth sentiments are hindering some of these creative solutions, but skilled architects and planners are finding effective approaches that adhere to de- sign guidelines and working with municipalities to solve these roadblocks. Relationships. Getting all of the project’s stake- holders to the table at the beginning of planning and design is essential in streamlining important approval processes for thedurationof theproject. Especiallyone whereyou’reasking for adensity increaseor other zon- ing variance. A teamwith a strong reputation of work- John Guilliams Director of Design, KGA Studio Architects PC KGA is working with Trailhead Community to design a one-of-a- kind multifamily community. Half of the units will be dedicated to adults with developmental disabilities while the other half will be for middle income active seniors and young professionals.