CREJ

78 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / June 2020 It’s not just about what’s inside; what’s outside is anoth- er big selling point. “There’s a pretty significant amount of parklike space behind each of the buildings off of the main street there, Lowry Boulevard,” says Sciarra. “It’s got grand walkways along the street set apart with planters, really try- ing to create a great community along the street front.” With the work at Vallagio, KTGY understood the approach. “We had a longstanding working relationship with [Metro- politanHomes], and knewhow theyworked, what their pro- cess was,” says Sciarra. “Peter is very involved, very into all the details. He knows what he wants.” As general contractor K2 Residential Solutions is a sister company to Metropolitan Homes, Sciarra says construction and design were integrated from the outset. “They [ K2 ] were at the table from Day One, before we were even engaged, so having that input and that guidance throughout the process makes it from a design perspective much easier,” he notes. “We knowwhat we’re getting into, what the decisions we’re making are, how they impact the overall cost … Construction was relatively smooth.” The biggest hurdle was up front, he adds. “The Lowry de- sign reviewprocess is a very arduous process. There are com- mittees that are very involved and into the designs of the projects, down to the brick detailing and what the building looks like to the berming of the landscape to the specific spe- cies of plant … Being able to adapt to the constant change and comment and feedback to get through that process was the biggest challenge.” Boulevard One is the last new neighborhood for Lowry. Kudla says the base’s redevelopment “is everything I expect- ed,” noting that Metropolitan’s first project at Lowry was al- most 20 years ago. He says he sees “if I had to put my forecast hat on, the ground that the state of Colorado controls in the vicinity of Lowry Boulevard and Havana [ Street ] will be the upcoming future for that part of Denver.” \\ / The Met at Boulevard One / TOP: The 70-acre, mixed-use development represents the final phase of the planned build-out at Lowry. Courtesy Rocky Mountain Photography BOTTOM: Park space surrounds the Met at Boulevard One. Courtesy Michelle Meunier Photography