Colorado-Real-Estate-Journal_418671

32 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / SEPTEMBER 2024 ELEMENTS Sustainable Design Tomorrow’s Blueprint: 5 Trends Shaping Real Estate F rom the Rockies to the plains, the real estate landscape is evolving quickly. Staying ahead of industry trends is increasingly vital in today’s market, but keeping pace can be challenging. n Wildfire resilience. Across the state, wildfires are threatening de- velopment. Designing for resilience is essential to mitigate the conse- quences of natural events and reduce hardships for communities. Local ju- risdictions, especially in alpine areas, are adapting planning requirements to enhance fire safety. This includes landscaped buffer zones surround- ing structures and enforcing stricter building material standards that are less combustible. For example, prop- erty insurance may require exterior cladding materials that are fire resis- tant. Moreover, water-conservation measures, such as xeriscaping, are in- strumental in this effort. Considering what’s at risk, this is a joint effort be- tween various stakeholders aiming to create safer communities. n Modular construction methods. For single-family and multifamily res- idential, modular construction is now considered for most projects to maintain quality while reducing costs. This approach is likely the future of res- idential construction. Transporting volumetric modular units over long distances with high gas prices; finding design teams and general contractors familiar with modular building; traditional financing; and production backlogs may still cause implementation issues. SEH is using panelized modular construction on a few residen- tial projects. As more companies emerge that can deliver within a reasonable radius, construction is expected to become increasingly mainstream as an efficient, cost-ef- fective option. n Attainable housing. Attainable workforce housing impacts both urban and rural areas, especially resort communities. Community land trusts can prove instru- mental in addressing this problem, as they are tax-exempt nonprofits. These trusts ensure long-term affordability by separating land ownership from building owner- ship and leasing the land back to the community. This model aims to help the workforce build wealth through homeownership, whether it be through condominiums or single-family residences. In the instance of Westside/ Triangle Mobile Home Park in Durango, this community banded together to avoid a corporate purchase, known to drastically increase rent. This was achieved through a creative public-private-nonprofit partnership, utilizing the land trust model. n Adaptive reuse. Developers are increasingly turning to adaptive reuse, breathing new life into existing struc- tures to meet housing needs. Converting older motels to studio apartments is a growing trend, but this comes with challenges, including accommodation for Type B Adrian Avilez Senior Project De- sign Leader, SEH Allison Miller Senior Architect, SEH Chris Sigit- Sidharta, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, GGP Senior Architect SEH Conceptual rendering of the Fire Station 10 project currently underway in Silverthorne