Helpful links for Waldo Fire Victims

In a continued effort to get information out to those affected by the Waldo Canyon fire we have listed a few more links below that we thought might be helpful.

The Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs (HBA)  has posted some helpful posts about how to rebuild, how to pick the right contractor, and how to avoid scams in the process.To view this information, please click here. Although it may be customary to obtain multiple bids during a typical construction project, the HBA is encouraging homeowners to use their approved member directory as an efficient and reliable method for choosing a reputable contractor/architect/engineer in lieu of a long bidding process.

  Here is a link to the directory of approved companies through the Colorado Springs HBA that can help you with your rebuild. To view this information, please click here.

Additionally, some frequently asked questions with topics about debris removal, disaster recovery centers, fire terms, insurance, etc. can be found here. 

Welcome Kyle!

Godden | Sudik Architects would like to welcome our newest member, Kyle Conley! Kyle completed his undergraduate degree in architecture at the University of Notre Dame. Kyle came to us from Florida where he gained experience working at a high-end residential architecture firm whose projects are located throughout Florida and the Bahamas. Additionally, he completed an internship with an engineering firm and completed a study abroad program in Rome, Italy. Kyle not only brings his broad knowledge of architecture to the team, but wonderful rendering and artistic techniques as well! We are very glad to have Kyle with us at Godden | Sudik Architects!

Godden | Sudik Architects Receives Gold Nugget Award

Godden | Sudik Architects has won the Gold Nugget Merit Award for the Best Single Family Detached Home 1,700 - 2,000 Sq. Ft. category. The Rosamond, offered by Berkeley Homes, is located in Denver’s hot-selling East Park at Lowry community. “Berkeley Homes gave us a great opportunity to let our design talent shine with the Rosamond,” said Scott Sudik. The Awarded model features a two story, 1,962 S.F. open floor plan that features a gourmet kitchen, well designed flex space, an elegant formal dining room and master bedroom with a spa-like master bathroom.


We are very honored to receive such a prestigious award from the PCBC. If you would like to view all the awards please visit the Gold Nugget Awards Website.

Waldo Fire: Rebuilding or Restoring Your Home

The Waldo fire in Colorado Springs, Colorado was devastating and our hearts go out to all that were affected. Numerous employees at Godden | Sudik were personally affected by this event and we would like to help by providing as much helpful information here on our blog. 

Below you will find the content issued by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department on homeowners' options for rebuilding their homes. Please visit their website for more information http://www.pprbd.org/.

In response to the catastrophic fire in Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department will

use the following scenarios to assist those who lost or suffered damage to their home. Any one of the

following 4 scenarios may be used when applicable. Upon completion of the scope of work defined for

a permit associated with scenario 1; 2 or 3, a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. No Certificate of

Occupancy will be issued for a permit using scenario 4. Please contact Mindy Stuemke @ 327-2903 or

Bob Croft@ 327-2914 to discuss if these scenarios will not work for your particular situation.

1. Use of existing foundation, same house:

If Regional Building has the original plans, the only document required will be a letter from a

licensed engineer stating that existing foundation is acceptable for rebuild. RBD will issue, at a

minimum fee, a demolition permit for removal of fire debris. This permit is required to monitor

removal activity and be sure fall protection is installed around the open foundation as required

by code(2011 PPRBC). The single family dwelling shell can be constructed according to the plans

on file with the issuance of a new remodel permit (434). The permit cost will be based on the

cost of square footage with attachments for Electrical/Mechanical and Plumbing trades at a

minimum fee. The interior finish portion of the house may not be required to meet all current

structural or design criteria of the 2009 IRC, but will be required to meet all life/ safety

requirements and other design provisions that benefit the owner such as, but not limited to,

State Electrical Code, smoke and CO detectors, energy conservation, etc.

2. Non-use of existing foundation, same house:

If Regional Building has the original plans, the documentation required will be a letter from a

licensed engineer stating that foundation is not safe for rebuild and submittal of a new

foundation plan for review/approval. RBD will issue a wrecking permit at a minimum fee for

total removal of foundation and all fire debris. This permit is required to monitor removal

activity and to be sure the foundation excavation is backfilled or protected according to code

(2011 PPRBC). With this option, a new single family dwelling permit (101) will be issued based

on the cost of square footage and no other trades will need to attach, this will be a universal

permit. The construction of the foundation must comply with all applicable provisions of the

2009 IRC. Inspections may be made by the engineer of record. The remaining portion of the

structure located above the foundation may be constructed as outlined in # 1 above.

3. Building new home (different from original) at existing location:

Process will be the same as any new single family dwelling plan/ permit submittal currently in

place. http://www.pprbd.org/plancheck/PLCK_RESGuide_2012.pdf One set of plans,

including engineered foundation, site plan, all construction docs and duct design components to

comply with 2009 IRC.

4. Repair of existing structure due to fire damage:

Process will be the same as any remodel for an existing residential structure.

Houzz Images

Many of our recent custom home clients have stumbled upon a great resource for current and prospective homeowners, industry professionals and really, just anyone who loves design! Houzz is a website where you can upload photos of your projects and tag them by style, space and location. Much like www.pinterest.com, you can also create idea books/boards and link these to Facebook to share with friends and family or just use them to store ideas for your dream house!

The site is very easy to use, for example, if you were trying to gather ideas for a meeting with your architect for a modern style home, you can go to www.houzz.com, click on the modern category, filter ever further by exterior (or any other space you like) and over 6,500 images instantly appear!

We encourage you to check out this website and view our recently uploaded photos of some of our award winning Parade of Homes. www.houzz.com For additional images of projects completed by Godden | Sudik Architects, please visit our website!

La Grande Cannoli at Reunion

ACE Mentor Program

For the last 7 years Alex Jewett, our Associate Principal, has been participating as a volunteer with the ACE Mentor Program.  At Godden | Sudik Architects we are always looking for ways to contribute to the community and this is just one of the many programs our employees are involved in.

 The ACE Mentor Program of America, Inc. was founded in 1994 and stands for Architecture, Construction and Engineering. The program focuses on mentoring high school students and inspiring them to pursue careers within design and construction. 

 This year, 15 different high schools participated in the program, include Smokey Hill High School, the school where Alex mentors.  During a 15 week program the students work on a studio project based on an actual site within Denver area.  To help gain a basic understanding of the various fields within Architecture, Construction, and Engineering; mentors, such as Alex, give presentations on different disciplines that pertain to the program and project.  The mentors then help guide the students  while they develop their designs.  Once the designs are complete students give a five minute presentation of their project to actual professional within the industry.  At the end of the program ACE holds a "Dollars for Scholars" dinner for students, parents, mentors, and sponsors.  The dinner is designed to identify those students that excelled in the program and who are graduating high school.  If any of these students are continuing on to college to study one of the various fields they are awarded a scholarship. This year $36,000 in scholarships were awarded to nine students. 

 This great program offers students interested in architecture, construction or engineering an opportunity to gain some knowledge prior to college about the industry and have some very valuable hands-on-experience with industry professionals.

For more information about ACE Mentor Program or to contribute

 to the program, please visit http://www.acementor.org/.

Box City

Denver recently wrapped up their annual Box City day which Godden | Sudik Architects, in past years,has had employees volunteer for. The event is a great example of how the Denver Metro Area is educating kids in a really fun way about historic preservation and urban design. They use items such as boxes, empty paper towel rolls, art supplies, etc. to create buildings and communities based on their own creativity.

This is an annual event that is open to the public and is a really great experience for kids!

Check out AIA Colorado's website for more information and pictures http://aiacolorado.org/events/COArchitectureMonth/BoxCity.aspx.