Richmark Expands its Greeley Footprint
National real estate developer Richmark Companies just broke ground on their new Alpine Flats development in Greeley, Colorado. Alpine Flats will offer amenity-rich apartment living geared toward young professionals. Brinkman Construction is the project’s general contractor, marking their third project together in the Northern Colorado market.
Alpine Flats will feature studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom plans with luxury bathrooms, quartz countertops, wood plank flooring and 42” cabinets. The community boasts an outdoor swimming pool with cabanas, an outdoor grill area, a fitness studio, a clubhouse with a kitchen and covered parking.
Located in a central Greeley location, the 184,000 SF community is scheduled to offer its first available units in the fall of 2023 with final completion in the spring of 2024—just in time for residents to enjoy all the community has to offer.
alm2s, a Fort Collins-based architectural firm, designed the community.
Continental Properties Expands into the Denver Market
National real estate developer Continental Properties just broke ground on their new Springs at Peña Station development in Denver, Colorado. The Springs at Peña Station community will offer luxury-style apartment living in an ideal location. Brinkman Construction is the project’s general contractor marking their third project together in the Colorado market.
The Springs at Peña Station development will feature gated, garden- and townhome-style studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartment homes with private, ground-level entrances and attached garage options totaling 272 units.
Located only thirty minutes from downtown Denver, the 380,302 SF community will offer amenities such as a resort-style pool, a 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, community clubhouse with coffee bar, outdoor barbecue area, conference room, car care area and a leash-free dog park with pet spa. Construction completion is schedule for winter of 2024.
Zimmerman Architectural is the design team on the Springs at Peña Station apartments.
Construction Completes on Low-Income Housing Community Fields on 15th
The federal low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) equity financing and Prospect Properties has officially completed construction on the Fields on 15th Apartments in Longmont, Colorado. The new multi-family community offers five, two- and three- story walk-up buildings for low-income families earning up to 50% to 60% of the area median income.
The 110,000 square-foot development on 4.05 acres includes a mix of one-, two-, three-, and four- bedroom options totaling 88 units with modern touches. Residents can also enjoy quality amenities such as a business center, a community room, an exercise facility, a playground, a picnic area, central laundry, on-site management, and parking spaces.
Brinkman Construction was the project’s general contractor, and Godden Sudik Architects was the design team.
Pictures to come.
Reinventing a New Normal in the Preconstruction Approach
As the nation continues returning to its daily routine, can we accept that the challenges we are facing as an industry may be the, “new normal”? They say, “old habits die hard”, and in the construction world, we are confronted with this reality daily. In an ever-changing world, our industry is experiencing continuous strains on how we’ve traditionally done business. While many products and services are being streamlined, age-old construction practices are being forced to keep up. As a leader in the rapidly developing multi-family sector, we know all too well the market-driven constraints that are increasingly impacting projects.
We are looking inward at our own processes and services to work effectively during this wave of changing market conditions. Material escalations, supply chain shortages, lending requirements, and a declining labor force continues to have significant impacts on every step in the building process. In this uncharted new climate, traditional preconstruction strategies will no longer suffice.
Considering the current trends in this explosive market, we are working with developers and design teams to lead strategies for increased preconstruction productivity and predictability.
Mitigating Escalation
With supply chains being extremely backed up, we are recommending that clients expedite their financial processes to be in a position to secure materials prior to the start of construction, helping to mitigate on-site shortages, delays, and cost premiums. This is a significant shift from the traditional process in which design teams complete drawings prior to contract execution, construction financing being secured, and Construction Administration. Early owner commitments grant us the ability to procure credible trade partners and process submittals; which tends to be one of the requirements to mitigate potential cost escalation. Being prepared to quickly review and turn around these submittals can directly impact what you pay and when you receive your materials. Forethought, communication, and stream-lined decision making helps everyone involved keep projects on-track and on budget.
Overcoming Limited Trade Partner Resources
Due to increased project start volume and current market conditions; traditional trade partner bidding strategies are less effective than they once were. Difficulties locking trades due to current market demand, is at an all-time high and the standard process of bidding at each stage of design if often not achievable.
With the shift construction companies are experiencing in trade partner commitments being anywhere from 6 to 12 months out, it is necessary to have the ability to make subcontractor selections earlier, which increases the security in pricing and confidence in the schedule. To do this, we are pulling contract negotiations forward, so we are prepared to execute an agreement, if necessary, with any key subcontractors or suppliers at any time.
In this new normal, taking a traditional competitive bid process with subcontractors may end up costing you in the long run, potentially paying a premium for less qualified, or altogether unavailable, resources. Earlier owner involvement in the trade partner selections will equate to confidence in project teams and quality work.
These recommendations are not cure-all solutions to all preconstruction approaches as each project is different and the constraints at a specific point in time may vary. With a chance to reflect on tried-and-true practices that have stood the test of time, we are challenging ourselves, our clients, and our trade partners to do something different, embracing change and seeking positive outcomes in a new normal process.
Brinkman Construction Awarded in The 23rd Annual AGC Construction Safety Excellence Award
Brinkman Construction was a finalist and awarded the Construction Management Division Under 250,000 Man Hours for the National Associated General Contractors of America Construction Safety Excellence Awards.
Choate Construction Company was recognized for having the nation’s best construction safety and wellness plan in 2021 by the Associated General Contractors of America. The association, which oversees the WTW Construction Safety Excellence Awards, an annual ranking of construction safety programs, noted that 46 other companies were also selected as winners for the quality of their safety programs.
View entire list of winners.
Continental Properties Continues Colorado Multi-Family Expansion
National real estate developer Continental Properties recently completed and started two multi-family developments in Colorado. The Springs at Foothills Farm community completed construction in the fall, while the Authentix Greeley community just kicked off project construction. Both developments included construction by General Contractor, Brinkman Construction.
Springs at Foothills Farm, located in Colorado Springs, features 264 apartment units spread out over 12 buildings totaling 303,408 square feet with nearby recreational trails and parks. The resort-style amenities include a clubhouse, pool area, standalone garages, a maintenance building, large dog parks, service mail kiosk and trash enclosures and fantastic views of Pikes Peak all in a robust area.
North of Colorado Springs, in Greeley, Authentix Greeley’s modern apartments will include 20 buildings with 288 units totaling 270,520 square feet with a clubhouse, pool, 24 detached garage stalls, maintenance building, a trash/recycling enclosure and mail kiosk. Authentix Greeley strives to offer a unique approach to apartment living with townhome-style studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes with private, ground-level entrances. Construction is scheduled for completion in fall of 2023.
Both communities aim to please their residents by providing ideal and convenient locations all while enjoying high-end, practical and modern living space in alluring locations.
Phillips Partnership was the design team on the Springs at Foothills Farm, and Excel Engineers is the design team on Authentix Greeley.
Springs at Foothill Farms, CO Springs, CO
Authentix Greeley, Greeley, CO
About Continental Properties
Continental Properties is a national developer and operator of multifamily communities, retail, and hospitality properties. Since its inception in 1979, Continental Properties has developed over 100 apartment communities encompassing more than 29,500 apartment homes in 19 states.
For additional information and to learn more about other Continental Properties communities, please visit www.cproperties.com.
We Celebrate the Influential Women Shaping the Construction Industry
As we celebrate Women in Construction Week, there is so much to reflect on regarding the state of women in construction. On one hand, the positive impact of females within our industry feels more influential than ever. On the other hand, we know we still have a long road ahead of us to make greater strides towards increased female representation (currently making up only 12% of the industry workforce), enhanced opportunities for advancement, and equality within positions. Like many journeys in life, the longest roads with the greatest obstacles are usually the ones worth traveling. As a 100% employee-owned company, we are even more motivated to own the continued forward progress along this road of diversity and inclusion.
Within our organization, we recognize the benefits of diversity to our employee owners, our clients, our communities, and our projects every single day. We experience how diversity drives innovation, creates greater representation, and generates better decision-making. We see that we are a more well-rounded company better able to collaborate and support each other to produce collective outcomes.
In honor of Women in Construction Week, we celebrate our female employee owners as well as all females throughout the construction industry! Thank you for all you do to pave the way by making our industry great today and even more progressive into the future!
Construction Begins on Active Adult Community Lynwood Senior
A new age-restricted senior living community is coming to Denver through a joint venture between real estate developers McDermott Properties and Kentro Group. The Lynwood Senior project just broke ground beginning of winter and is expected for completion in the late 2022.
Lynwood Senior will feature a 49,031 square-foot, three-story building including 62 units. Each unit includes in-unit bathrooms and kitchens that are ADA Accessible.
Lynwood Senior will offer a variety of amenities such as an exercise room, work room, office space, community room, outdoor patio, dog walking area with outdoor grass, bike storage room and two ADA Accessible common restrooms. There will also be an electric vehicle charging station in the outdoor parking area with potential for extra future parking.
Brinkman Construction is the project’s general contractor, and Lewis Himes Associates is the design team.
Construction Begins on McWhinney Multi-Family Development The Lariat
McWhinney, a Colorado-based real estate investment, development and management firm with expertise in commercial, multifamily, hospitality, residential and mixed-use assets, broke ground this week on the Lariat, a new multifamily community in Greeley, Colorado.
Read the full article at Mile High CRE>>
Office Renovation and New Multi-Family Projects Completed in Historic Capitol Hill
Construction of a two-building project at 757 and 777 Grant Street has been completed for LCP Development.
777 Grant called for an extensive renovation of an existing six-story, 1950’s-era office building with 8,000 square-feet of added retail, restaurant and office space. The completed building offers modern multi-tenant office space.
757 Grant is a ground-up, eight-story, multi-family building with a four-story cast-in-place parking garage for residents. The apartments feature 68 wood-framed, pet- and parking- friendly, micro-units with designer kitchens and bathrooms in a bustling neighborhood just minutes from downtown. The multi-family development allows its tenants to enjoy the historic Capitol Hill architecture, shops, parks, and trails. Amenities include a lounge, rooftop patio, fitness center, dog wash and package receiving center.
Brinkman Construction is the project’s general contractor, Open Studio Architecture is the design team for the office building and RATIO | HPA designed the multi-family building.
Trust and proactivity are key to managing lumber procurement
Every industry is feeling the upheaval caused by the relentless challenges of 2020. Whether it was pivoting to a fully remote workplace, changing your business model completely, or taking on teaching a virtual kindergarten class, it’s been a roller coaster of a year. In construction, material pricing has always been a hot button topic, but it reached new heights in the last 12 months. Specifically, the cost of lumber has taken a complete diversion from the typical patterns we’ve seen in the past. Decades of data have shown typical peak purchasing windows for lumber, but 2020 turned that data on its head.
Unique variables at work
When we look at the volatility of lumber pricing last year, it’s a perfect storm of many variables culminating at once: decreased supply, increased demand, and mass economic uncertainty. We’ve seen one or two of these variables in the past, but never have we experienced such an unprecedented spike in prices due to the outsized demand. One of the earliest factors we experienced last year was foreign borders closing due to the pandemic, putting an abrupt halt on lumber importing. As the pandemic continued to spread, production mills began to temporarily close or operate at reduced capacity due to outbreaks, preventive measures, or mandates from local governments.
With companies transitioning to remote environments, people began sprawling from urban areas in record numbers, increasing single-family home production, and at the same time, big box stores increased purchasing due to the DIY craze eating up supply. The addition of a record-breaking number of wildfires last year was just the icing on the already dismal cake to the heightened question marks for the lumber industry.
Risk tolerance drives strategy
As a contractor, we have to play an active and informed role in analyzing supply and demand. Our preconstruction department tracks commodities closely to enable us to make recommendations that support each clients’ unique goals based on where pricing is headed in the coming months and years. It takes this dedicated team to build estimates tailored for each project.
Determining the risk tolerance for all parties is a key part of our lumber procurement strategy. Understanding the contract structure, who assumes the risk, and what benefits there may be to each party are all considered and actively discussed, especially as we head into final pricing efforts. We have to know when it’s preferable to turnkey material or purchase direct and, ultimately, our clients benefit from the strong partnerships we’ve built with suppliers and subcontractors that enable us to make more informed decisions. As project budgets get tighter due to stabilizing rents, early alignment on strategy is crucial to finding success for all parties.
Above all else, having key partners and a strategy is paramount. Building strong relationships with longstanding and trusted suppliers and subcontractors is what makes a project viable in today’s volatile landscape. Owners and developers can mitigate their risk and continue building projects. In fact, those that can maximize on the current market will thrive even as this pandemic continues.
Construction Completes on Blue Federal Credit Union World Headquarters
The historic Cole Shopping Center in Cheyenne, Wyo., has found new life. Brinkman Construction and Blue Federal Credit Union celebrated the official opening of the credit union’s new world headquarters campus and Blue Diamond Center branch in the former shopping center location last month.
“We truly feel our vision was executed,” said Stephanie Teubner, President & CEO of Blue Federal Credit Union. “The entire design-build team took a very hands-on and proactive approach to managing the process and ensuring the quality of the end product.”
The eight-acre project, which broke ground in explosive fashion in May 2019, includes three buildings with Class A office, retail and commercial suites located at the busy intersection of Pershing and Converse Avenues. The space in between the buildings is now a public plaza with patio seating and a half-mile walking path to create a true community space.
The credit union headquarters is a 76,000-square-foot steel building and includes three floors with workspace for 200 employees, training areas, fitness and locker rooms, a dining hall, and rooftop amenity space. The two-story community wing includes a large operable sliding door for events that leads to the main plaza. The onsite bar and large seating room includes acoustical felt baffle ceiling for employee events, as well as being available for the public to rent for corporate or private events.
The second level of the community wing includes a wet bar and a training room with two operable wall partitions allowing the space to be split into three separate rooms. The community wing also includes a large gallery space for events complete with a custom wall art feature, employee café and large catering kitchen.
The three-story office wing functions as Blue's World Headquarters with the main lobby showcasing a large fireplace with custom mantel made from the original Safeway structure that once stood onsite. The two-story curtain wall at the central stairs is the focal point of the entryway.
Another feature of the office wing is the Executive Board Room, complete with a custom-made table, also built from the original Safeway structure, and an outdoor balcony with a grill and firepit.
The new Blue Diamond Center branch anchors the west building and will be one of 18 branches across Colorado and Wyoming serving nearly 100,000 members. There are several retail spaces available within and neighboring this space that are ready for interior finishes as tenants are secured.
The project was a design-build collaboration between general contractor Brinkman Construction, design firm Open Studio Architecture and Blue Federal Credit Union. The development was part of a larger vision to strengthen the Cheyenne community by adding communal outdoor space. This space will ultimately provide a setting for summer musical performances and outdoor events. Despite building through two Wyoming winters, the project remained on schedule and on budget.
“We are very happy with the entire process of building Blue’s new world headquarters,” said Jim Ciesla, President & CEO of Brinkman Construction. “From the onset, the design-build team was extremely strong. Blue’s commitment to their customers and their community is remarkable. This campus will continue building on Blue’s legacy and enhancing their local community.”