January often invites declarations. New trends. New aesthetics. Bold predictions about what comes next.
Around the office, the conversation heading into 2026 has been more measured, and more revealing. Rather than asking what our next local project looks like, we’ve been asking how we expand our work in ways that might be more challenging: steeper sites, tighter design constraints, faster timelines, and markets that each define “great architecture” differently.
Over the past year, those questions stopped being theoretical. They became real projects, and real learning curves. The work that’s moving forward in 2026 reflects that shift, architecture shaped as a blend of client preference and designer intuition. Two new projects in particular capture what this next year represents.
Vail, Colorado
Our recent project in Vail began with a site condition that left very little room for interpretation: the steepest lot our firm has ever worked on.
“It became obvious almost immediately that this site wasn’t going to allow for familiar solutions,” says Principal Architect Zane Levin. “We couldn’t approach it in the way we’d approached other homes, we would hit walls, literally and figuratively.”
The lot drops sharply from the street, while building height limits remain firm. The client’s vision called for openness and expansive views, yet the surrounding neighborhood leans traditional. Layer on a local design review board that is precise and methodical. Instead of compressing the footprint or forcing the house upward, the design of the home moves with the slope.
The home steps down the hillside along a 30-foot plane, allowing the structure to expand downward rather than fight vertical limits. Each level aligns deliberately with the grade. The entry sequence looks almost like a bridge, bringing you into the house before the full volume reveals itself below.
That move wasn’t aesthetic. It was strategic.
“We spent a lot of time understanding how far we could go before the architecture started working against the rules instead of with them,” says Josh Mazar, Architectural Designer. “Once that clicked, the rest of the house fell into place.”
Then came the glass.
Across all three levels, entire walls are floor-to-ceiling glazing, the most extensive use of glass we have put into an active project. It wasn’t a simple decision, and it wasn’t executed lightly. Window systems were studied, tested, and reconsidered until the team found solutions that could handle scale, performance, and climate.
“The glass wasn’t about making a statement,” Levin notes. “It was about making the interior experience make the most of the site. If you’re building on a lot like this, the views aren’t decoration, they’re part of the structure of the house.”
The result is a home where light moves vertically, views remain uninterrupted, and the architecture feels encompassing without being excessive. It’s also a project that demanded constant negotiation, between creative liberty, client expectations, and regulatory requirements.
“There were moments where we had to move very quickly,” Mazar says. “Decisions had to be clear, defensible, and communicated well. That pressure ultimately made the project stronger.”
Breckenridge, Colorado
Perched above Breckenridge Ski Resort, the neighborhood offers sweeping views of chairlifts, ski runs, and the wide valley beyond. Here, homes are experienced from every angle, shaped by shifting light, weather, and perspective.
“In most projects, there are sides of the house no one really sees,” Levin explains. “At Victory Ridge, that doesn’t exist. Every elevation matters.”
A clear framework grounds each design: homes are capped at 7,000 square feet, height limits are strict, and every side must hold visual weight. What remains intentionally open is architectural expression.
Within those parameters, we’re exploring a range of tailored approaches, from classic alpine forms to crisp modern lines and transitional styles that blend the two. What unites them isn’t a specific look but a guiding logic.
“Any move we make has to be supported by more than just preference,” says Mazar. “There has to be a reason it looks the way it does, whether structural, spatial, or experiential.”
Designing in Victory Ridge also means balancing presence with privacy. Sun angles, wind exposure, proximity to ski traffic, and expansive cross-valley views all influence form and function. These homes must perform just as well for those living inside as for those passing by on the mountain.
“It’s a rare condition,” Levin adds. “You’re designing for the homeowner and the town at the same time.”
Beyond individual projects, 2026 represents a meaningful internal shift for our team.
Over the past year, the team has clearly defined graphic standards, established consistent workflows, and refined a design process that carries across markets. That groundwork is now in place. The focus moving forward is refinement, making each project smoother, faster, and more resilient without limiting creative range.
This matters as our footprint continues to expand. Projects underway or in progress span Vail, Breckenridge, Steamboat, Winter Park, Utah, and beyond. Each market brings different codes, expectations, and cultural norms around design.
“Learning how to operate within those differences, without losing who we are, has been the real work,” Levin says.
As important as where and how we work, is the team itself, who is doing the work. Experience has compounded. Roles are clear. Trust has been built over years, with the same people leaning into what we do and embracing it without hesitation.
“In architecture, teams change constantly,” Mazar adds. “Having continuity allows the work to deepen. You stop solving the same problems over and over.”
As the year begins, we’re not focused on declarations or headlines. We’re focused on what the work is asking of us: clarity, adaptability, and discipline in increasingly complex environments.
That’s what 2026 represents, a year of meaningful strides, sharper decisions, and architecture that earns its place.
That’s the work ahead and it’s just the beginning. Let’s start the conversation about your 2026 project.
