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76 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / June 2020 / The Met at Boulevard One / PROJECT TEAM DEVELOPER: METROPOLITAN HOMES GENERAL CONTRACTOR: K2 RESIDENTIAL SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT: KTGY ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING MEP ENGINEER: GIVENS & ASSOCIATES STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: MARTINO & LUTH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: CONSILIUM DESIGN Peter Kudla, CEO, Metropolitan Homes In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kudla says he expects a shift in the residential market. “I think we’re just going to see a more cautious presentation of product, a cautious reception of product,” he says. “I believe living environments have gotten to be so segmented by way of size, location and price. That’s even going to be more sensitive. Pricing has always – always – been a challenge for everyone, because we’re not accus- tomed to rising prices. I think housing will continue to be in demand. I think the demand for urbanology is strong.” However, the trend toward smaller units is primed to reverse, adds Kudla. “I’m a proponent of in- creasing the size of condominiums and apartments, because I think we’re going to be facing a time of consolidation,” he says. Studio and one-bedroom units “become the most vulnerable with econom- ic change. The two-bedroom, two-bath [unit], three-bedroom, three-bath [unit] I think is coming back with a little extra square footage because of family-and-friend consolidation.” On the Front Range, Kudla says he has high hopes for the medical district between Logan and Downing streets along Old Hampden Avenue in Englewood. “We’re very fortunate to have two new condomini- um buildings under construction right now at Craig Hospital in Englewood and Swedish Medical in En- glewood,” he says. “Geographically, we’re firm be- lievers in the overall economic development around hospitals and schools.” He adds, “I think we’re going to see Old Hampden evolve over the next five years. More housing and more boutique retail will take a presence. I really do believe the focus will be change along that edge.” K2 is also working on a 36-unit condominium project in Englewood at the Iron Works Village proj- ect with BLVDWAY Communities, as well as Downing Street Lofts (28 lofts) and Corona Street (44 lofts). “We have a nice little niche of these midsized condo projects,” says Greg Krause, principal and co-founder (with Kudla) of K2. “We have the staff and processes to build condos.” The vision for the Met at Boulevard one took root in 2017 with “significant competition” between developers for the site, says Sciarra. Metropolitan Homes won out, and brought KTGY on based on previous experience with the firm. Ground broke in winter 2019. Peter Kudla, CEO of Metropolitan Homes in Denver, says KTGY was chosen based on a previous collaboration on the Amberley Heights apartment complex at Vallagio in Engle- wood. “They did a fabulous job reconfiguring the 45 units [ at the Met at Boulevard One ] ,” says Kudla. “They were very fa- miliar with our demographics, they had a great relationship withour internal design teamand construction team, and the attention to detail was very well-executed.” Not that there weren’t any hiccups. “I think that the coor- dination between engineering is always tricky,” notes Kudla. “K2 and KTGY worked together very well to focus in on those particular needs.” “Knowing that it’s for-sale product, we paid attention to the details and the detailing, waterproofing and sound as- semblies between doors,” says Greg Krause, principal and co-founder (with Kudla) of K2. “The team did a good job with coordination between everybody.” Notes Kudla: “Foundation designs are always topics of dis- cussion. I think structural integrity of podiums are always interpreted a couple different ways. That’s usually a strong discussion point with architects, engineers and GCs.” Kudla likewise commends Deborah Green, a senior adviser with Metropolitan Residential Advisors, for her work on the project. “Deborah worked diligently on interior design, floor plan design, use of space,” he says. It all comes back to lifestyle, adds Krause. “It’s not an age-re- stricted community by any means, but the product design is pretty age-targeted. It’s about location. There’s not a lot of amenities in the building. The amenity is the location, the open space, the landscape, the art around the building.” There are no clubhouses, workout rooms or pools. “We have a livability quotient,” notes Kudla. “We’ve talked about it for years. The livability quotient is: How do people live? What are the values of importance? You’re always in an equation to balance and exceed expectations.” Another balancing act involved price. “One of the big goals of Metropolitan Homes in conjunction with what Lowry was looking for herewas really trying to come upwith a price-sen- sitive, for-sale delivery in the master plan of Boulevard One,” says Sciarra. Condos range from $450,000s to $875,000. Sciarra says it’s a good value. “It’s at the lower end for the neighborhood,” he says. “The kitchens are still grand and luxurious. The bath- rooms are like a very well-done, high-end home. I think the key is that there weren’t any corners cut on how things got finished. It really was about how we were efficient with the spaces so we were able to reduce the square footage and cre- ate an achievable price point.” The target market is an older demographic with “an emp- ty-nester mindset,” he adds, and that played into the design. “There are two buildings that flank on either side, each with