Pinkard Construction has completed Boulder County Housing Authority’s Willoughby Corner development under budget and ahead of schedule despite an early five-month permitting delay.
Located southwest of the intersection of 120th and Emma streets in East Lafayette, Willoughby Corner is a master-planned greenfield project born of an intergovernmental agreement among Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA), Boulder County, and the City of Lafayette.
Pinkard’s Phase 1 of this development ($83 M in hard costs, $106 M all in) includes a 63-unit apartment building for 55-and-over residents, four multi-family buildings totaling 129 units, a community center, and $15 million in roads and infrastructure (R&I) improvements. Featuring extensive geothermal and solar energy systems, the all-electric project is now Colorado’s largest Zero Energy Ready Home community.
The roads and infrastructure improvements came with considerable jurisdictional challenges as the City of Lafayette worked through its long term R&I plans. Thanks to a strong collaboration among the owner/design team, Pinkard, and the City, Pinkard was able to make significant modifications to the existing construction and logistics plans to accommodate the city’s ever changing requirements, but the R&I modifications resulted in a five-month delay to construction start. BCHA granted Pinkard a five-month schedule extension, but all parties agreed that meeting the originally contracted completion date was critical to BCHA’s funding needs.
Pinkard ultimately completed the project as originally scheduled on December 31st, 2024, following an intensive resequencing that included a major revamping of the construction plan, an enhanced quality control plan, and numerous manpower adjustments. One design team member described the completion effort as “miraculous.”
Pinkard Frameworks, Pinkard's in-house wood framing division, played a key role in keeping the project on schedule, with in-depth planning during preconstruction and considerable manpower adjustments in the field. Frameworks’ focus was saving money for BCHA while maximizing construction efficiencies and avoiding in-field redesigns.
RS&H Principal Architect Tino Leone: “Frameworks’ approach to preconstruction planning and field efficiencies had a significant impact on schedule. It was a great benefit to the project.”
All construction work was completed under near-occupied conditions, with heavy school traffic jams bisecting the construction site and significant road closures and detours impacting site access and deliveries.
With numerous funding sources covering various aspects of this large project, Pinkard provided 30+ estimates during the complicated two-year-long preconstruction phase. Pinkard’s intensive collaboration and creativity in design optimization ensured a timely, in-budget construction start. Funding included 4% and 9% CHFA tax credits.
BCHA Executive Director Susana Lopez-Baker: “We completed a $100+ million project with $15 million in infrastructure improvements on top of 192 housing units in 16 months. I think that’s just incredible. Pinkard was always flexible, and we were always beating challenges and meeting our goals. It was really exceptional to see, and people love our beautiful development.”
Currently, Pinkard is continuing with the City’s R&I improvements surrounding the Willoughby development. Roads and infrastructure upgrades are expected to be complete by the end of May.
The Boulder County Housing Authority is leasing Willoughby Corner now, with below-market-rate homes available for people earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income, or about $70,000 per year for a two-person household. Visit the Willoughby Corner website for more information about eligibility and applications.
Community members are also invited to an Open House at Willoughby Corner on Thursday, May 8 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., when they can tour available homes and get help applying.
