Ripley Design, Inc.

World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM)   At Ripley, we take great pride in honoring our licensed landscape architects! We conducted interviews with some of our landscape architects; Russ Lee, Sam Coutts, Klara Rossouw, and Joel Weikert to get to know them better. Who is your favorite architect or landscape architect and why?   Russ Lee: "Mosha Safdie, His ability to create beauty with thoughtful meaning. He has a great story in one of his books about dealing with a synagogue design. The members of the synagogue wanted stain glass. He convinced the members that specially placed prisms would give the same effect as stain glass without adopting another religion’s traditional motif. Instead of saying no, he said yes through his thoughtful creativity".    How do you overcome your challenges?   Joel Weikert: " Reminding myself that the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time".   What sets you apart from your colleagues?   Sam Coutts: "The lack of veggies in my diet and my love for Excel spreadsheets".   What's your design process like?   Klara Rossouw: "Every project you're a part of, you'll encounter something completely unique that you haven't seen before. I think incorporating a learning mindset in the design process and being adaptable allows you to channel more creative solutions".   What colleges did you attend?   Klara Rossouw: "I have a B.S. in Zoology from Mars Hill University and a Master of Landscape Architecture from Colorado State University".   Russ Lee: "I received an undergraduate degree in history from Truman State University and a BLA and MLA from Iowa State University".   Joel Weikert: "I received my BLA from Iowa State University in 2019".   Sam Coutts: "I received my BLA from Colorado State University".

Policy update on the horizon! 📢 The Fort Collins Land Use Code (LUC) Phase 1 Update is heading to a crucial hearing on April 16th, and as Landscape Architects and Land Planners invested in our city's future, we couldn't be more driven to share the details with you. Following the adoption and subsequent repeal of the previous update last year, Fort Collins City Council has requested a fresh approach—one that not only enhances the functionality of the code but also preserves the current density requirements in key zone districts like RL, UE, NCL, NCM. It also includes renaming the NCL, NCM, and NCB zone districts to Old Town (OT) – A, B, and C.📜💼 The Land Use Code Improvements are a comprehensive set of changes aimed at providing clarity, reorganization, and the introduction of building form standards. These updates are also designed to streamline processes, making it easier to navigate the regulatory landscape while ensuring responsible growth and development. 🌱🏗️ These changes aren't just about tweaking technicalities, however. They're about aligning the code with broader policy objectives outlined in the City Plan, the Housing Strategic Plan, and the Our Climate Future plan. By integrating these policy directions, the City is not just shaping developments; they're shaping a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future for Fort Collins. 🌎💫 Now, let's address the rumors: No, these changes do not entail density increases in specific residential zone districts, nor do they alter the use of private covenants. The City is committed to maintaining the integrity of our neighborhoods while fostering thoughtful, inclusive growth. 🤝 So mark your calendars for the upcoming hearing and let your voices be heard! Together, let's lay the groundwork for a vibrant, sustainable future—one where every corner of Fort Collins thrives. 💪🏼🏙️ #FortCollinsPlanning #LandUseCode #CommunityEngagement #SustainableDevelopment #CityPlanning

🎉 Happy Professional Landscape Architects Day! 🌿 Today, April 3, 2024, as we celebrate the invaluable contributions of Landscape Architects worldwide, let's also recognize the critical role of licensure in our profession. 🌍 April is World Landscape Architecture Month and is a time to honor the artistry, innovation, and impact of landscape design on our communities and environments. Licensure ensures that this impact is not just meaningful but also responsible and sustainable. Here's why licensure is paramount for Professional Landscape Architects: 1️⃣ Expertise and Excellence: Licensure signifies a Landscape Architect's mastery of specialized knowledge, skills, and ethical standards, ensuring that every project is executed with the highest level of expertise and excellence. 2️⃣ Safety and Sustainability: Our designs shape the world around us, impacting ecosystems, public spaces, and human experiences. Licensure guarantees that these designs prioritize safety, environmental stewardship, and long-term sustainability. 3️⃣ Legal Standing and Liability Protection: With licensure comes legal recognition, empowering Landscape Architects to sign and seal plans with confidence, protecting both clients and communities from potential risks and liabilities. 4️⃣ Professional Recognition: Being licensed elevates our status as trusted professionals, earning the respect and confidence of clients, collaborators, and the public, while advancing the credibility and visibility of the landscape architecture profession. 5️⃣ Continuous Advancement: Licensure opens doors to ongoing professional development, career advancement, and leadership opportunities, driving innovation and excellence in landscape architecture for the future. Today, as we honor Professional Landscape Architects and their remarkable contributions to our world, let's also reaffirm our commitment to licensure, ensuring that our profession continues to thrive and positively impact lives for generations to come. As we celebrate this special day within World Landscape Architecture Month, we're taking a moment to honor the remarkable talent and dedication of our licensed Landscape Architects here at Ripley Design: RUSSELL LEE, Sam Coutts, Klara Rossouw, and Joel Weikert, PLA. And let's also celebrate those on their journey towards licensure: Lindsay O. and Evan Callis. ✨ #WLAM2024 #LandscapeArchitecture #Professionalism #LicensureMatters #PLAday

🍃 Reimagining Community Spaces: Changes in Landscape Design ☀ With the recent passage of Senate Bill SB24-005 in Colorado, a new era for landscape architecture is upon us. Starting January 1, 2026, the bill introduces groundbreaking changes, banning the use of non-functional turf, artificial turf, and invasive plant species in commercial, institutional, and industrial settings. This pivotal moment redefines how we envision and construct our communal spaces. As landscape architects, we stand at the forefront of this transformation. The bill's focus on native plants, drought-resistant vegetation, and sustainable alternatives to traditional landscaping elements aligns perfectly with our mission to design spaces that not only serve our communities but also protect and enhance our environment. What We Can Do for You: 💡 Innovative Design Solutions: Leveraging our expertise, we're ready to reimagine your outdoor spaces with sustainable practices that meet the new legislative requirements while ensuring they remain vibrant places for people to come together. 💧 Enhanced Biodiversity and Water Conservation: By prioritizing native and drought-resistant plantings, our designs not only adhere to SB24-005 but also contribute to biodiversity, reduce water usage, and support the local ecosystem. 🤝 Collaborative Approach: We believe in the power of collaboration. Working closely with our clients and communities, we aim to create spaces that reflect the collective vision and values of those who use them, fostering a deeper connection to our natural world. This legislation marks a significant step forward in our collective journey towards sustainability and environmental stewardship. As your partners in landscape architecture, we're excited to navigate these changes together, transforming our shared spaces into models of innovation and environmental consciousness. Let's embrace this opportunity to lead by example, crafting outdoor spaces that not only meet legislative mandates but also inspire and enrich our communities for generations to come. #LandscapeDesign #Sustainability #CommunitySpaces #Colorado #Innovation #Environment #SB24-005

🌿 Exciting News from Ripley Design! 🌆 We are thrilled to share a momentous achievement for Ripley Design and our valued client, Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE:CCS), as the City Council of Lone Tree, Colorado, has granted approval to their new multifamily project! Our journey with this project has been a testament to the power of creativity, and collaboration. A special congratulations goes to Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE:CCS) for their unwavering commitment to creating a vibrant and sustainable community in Lone Tree. 🌳 Landscaping Magic: At Ripley Design, we take pride in our role as landscape architects for this project. Our team has diligently crafted outdoor spaces designed for a thriving community where residents can live, work, and play. The project boasts a luxury pool and amenity courtyard, enhanced pedestrian streetscape, dog park and entry plaza. 📜 Entitlement Approval Strategy: Ripley Design's expertise extends beyond aesthetics. Our meticulous entitlement approval strategy has been instrumental in navigating the regulatory landscape, ensuring a smooth path to project approval. This achievement showcases our commitment to community planning and the City's vision. 🏡Architectural Brilliance: Kudos to the visionary team at KTGY for their exceptional architectural design that seamlessly blends aesthetics with functionality. Your creativity has truly brought the Century Livings' vision to life! 👷♂️ Engineering Excellence: A big shoutout to Merrick & Company, the civil engineering masterminds behind the scenes. Your expertise and attention to detail have played a crucial role in ensuring the project's success. 🤝 Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: None of this would have been possible without the incredible collaboration and teamwork among Ripley Design, Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE:CCS), KTGY, and Merrick & Company and many many others! It's a testament to what can be achieved when talented professionals come together to bring a shared vision to fruition. 🎉 Next Steps: As we move forward, we are eager to witness the transformation of this vision into a reality. Stay tuned for updates on the progress of this exciting project. Thank you to everyone involved for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. We look forward to contributing positively to the Lone Tree community and creating a place that residents will proudly call home. #RipleyDesign #MultifamilyProject #LoneTree #CommunityDevelopment #Collaboration #KTGY #MerrickAndCompany #CityCouncilApproval #landscapearchitecture #entitlement #landplanning #courtyard #streetscape #urbanplanning 🏡🌳

🏙️ Emerging Market Trends in Colorado's Commercial Real Estate for 2024 Ripley attended ULI Colorado’s Emerging Trends in Real Estate on January 18th.  Insightful presentations by PwC and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, as well as well as a panel discussion presented highlighting key trends in Colorado's commercial real estate landscape. Here are some pivotal takeaways: + Debt Dynamics: 2024 centers around commercial real estate debt. A staggering $1.2 trillion of commercial real estate debt is maturing by 2026, impacting deal-making significantly. + Asset Spotlight: --> Offices in Distress: The office sector continues to face the most distress. Many office properties may be refurbished and amenitized to attract tenants or be torn down in place of new development in the coming years. --> Multifamily remains the darling of the Denver metro: While multifamily assets have high exposure risks in the coming years, the expectation is for continued growth – especially in senior housing and workforce housing development. + Housing Affordability: Homeownership costs continue to climb, consuming 46% of average take-home income in 2023, a significant 13% increase over three years. + Work-from-Home Impact: In the Denver metro, 25% of employees work from home, leading to ground-floor retail struggles and business closures in traditional downtown environments. + Denver's Market Position: Climbing to #12 in hot market rankings due to a focus on residential development. + Investment Trends: Multifamily and hotel sectors in Denver see high investment retention. However, office spaces anticipate major shifts. + Economic Indicators: -->Workforce Shifts: An increase in prime age workforce participation contrasts with a drop in the 55+ segment. --> Shelter Inflation: Remains at 6% year-over-year, with no decline expected in 2024. Panel Predictions: Muted optimism, with an emphasis on strategic deals, and the impact of energy policy shifts on development costs. 🔍 Overall, the sentiment for Denver's commercial real estate is a blend of cautious optimism and strategic adjustment, with a keen eye on debt dynamics and evolving market trends. #CommercialRealEstate #MarketTrends #DenverRealEstate #EmergingTrends #RealEstateInvestment #ULIColorado

🌿 Reconsidering SB24-005: Balancing Environmental Concerns with Community Needs 🌿 At Ripley Design, we're passionate about creating spaces that foster community and environmental sustainability. Today, we find ourselves in a unique position to discuss Colorado's proposed state bill SB24-005, which targets the use of artificial turf. While we stand firmly behind the bill's intent to conserve water and protect natural resources, we also recognize its potential unintended impacts on community spaces. People cherish informal gathering areas, which require groundcover to prevent erosion and maintain usability. Current material options are limited: hardscape, inorganic mulch, live turf, and artificial turf. If SB24-005 passes without amendments, our social spaces could be restricted to hardscape materials, leading to hotter, less comfortable, and more rigid environments. We're particularly concerned about the bill's overlook on PFAS-free artificial turf options. These sustainable alternatives address both environmental and social needs without compromising our watersheds. Furthermore, artificial turf offers increased permeability, a critical factor in managing stormwater effectively. 🌱 Our Proposition: We propose amending SB24-005 to permit PFAS-free artificial turf in specific scenarios, especially in spaces designated for "civic, community, or recreational purposes." This amendment would balance the need for water conservation with the creation of vibrant community spaces. 💧 Water conservation is vital, but so is community wellbeing. We urge Colorado legislators to consider a balanced approach that preserves our community spaces while upholding our commitment to the environment. 📣 We welcome your thoughts and invite a healthy discussion on this crucial topic. #RipleyDesign #LandscapeArchitecture #CommunitySpaces #SustainableDesign #ColoradoLegislation #SB24005 #ArtificialTurf #EnvironmentalPolicy #UrbanDesign

Help us welcome Tenae, our newest project manager aboard the Ripley team. Tenae's experience in local government brings her expertise in coordination and municipality process knowledge to the team. We are excited to have you join us and can't wait to see what you'll accomplish!

This mixed-use development in historic Old Town Fort Collins is located on the corner of Mountain Avenue and Shields Street. It includes six alley loaded luxury townhomes and a restaurant space. Ripley Design was hired for Entitlement, Site Planning and landscape architecture to help turn the client’s vision into a reality.

We are thrilled to welcome our newest team member Abdul Barzak as a project manager for Ripley. We look forward to all the great contributions he will make to our team. (Fun fact: Abdul always wanted to be a NASCAR driver growing up).