Kicking Off Black History Month.
This Black History Month, WORKSHOP8 honors the legacy of Beverly Lorraine Greene, the first Black woman licensed as an architect in the U.S. Her contributions to modern architecture, from public housing to the iconic UNESCO House in Paris, continue to inspire.
Despite her groundbreaking work, racism in housing remains a critical issue today, disproportionately affecting Black and Latino communities. As architects and designers, we have a responsibility to advocate for equity and inclusion in the built environment.
🖤 Let’s do better, design better, and build for a more just future.
Work. Project updates.
We’ve got three projects under construction and two in Design Development—big things are happening!
🏗️ StarRise | Greeley
This High Plains Housing development is going up fast! 58 units in a 4-story building, plus an adaptive reuse community space. Huge shoutout to KCI Construction for keeping things on track—formerly unhoused residents will be settling in by autumn!
🏗️ Overlook | Thornton
Nine buildings, 160 units, and a brand-new clubhouse with a pool, gym, and community room. Palace Construction is making it happen, and residents—old and new—will be diving into the pool just in time for summer.
🏗️ Jacoby Meadows | Windsor
Pinkard Construction is in full swing on this 62-unit, 4-story affordable housing project. Seniors will be celebrating Halloween in their new digs—no better treat than a brand-new home!
✏️ Walsh Annex Rehab | Denver
Big things ahead for this 100-unit, 12-story rehab for the Denver Housing Authority! We wrapped up contractor walk-throughs and just onboarded the General Contractor. Permit Set submission coming in May!
✏️ 1818 9th Avenue | Longmont
This 44-unit, 4-story apartment project is taking shape! The project is being developed and constructed by family-owned Gabler Construction. We’re laser-focused on getting the Permit Set ready for April.
Design. Drowning in submittals.
With three projects under construction, our weeks are packed with reviewing submittals. Some—like door hardware—might not spark joy, but others, like signage and flooring materials, feed our design soul!
🐾 And let’s be honest—everything’s more fun with furry friends helping us review samples.
Announcements. COLORADO GIVES 2024
WORKSHOP8 is proud to uplift our community by donating to 10 incredible local organizations in 2024. We deeply appreciate the impactful work they do to create meaningful change and make a difference.
❤️ Our 2024 Giving Recipients:
- 🚴 Coalition 4 Cyclists
- 🎭 The Catamounts
- 🏡 High Plains Housing
- 💜 YWCA Boulder County
- 🏠 Senior Housing Options
- 💛 Rise Against Suicide (in honor of Ava Thompson)
- 🥕 Boulder Food Rescue
- 🎨 Street Wise Arts
- 🐾 Humane Society of Boulder Valley
- 🏛️ Month of Modern
We’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to organizations making a real difference in our community and beyond.
With three hearts and plenty of arms to give, Toby Octopado—our spirit animal—reminds us that generosity is about going the extra mile. These incredible groups inspire us daily to help build stronger, more connected communities—one thoughtful gesture at a time.
The Team: My 58th Birthday! 🎉
I always love a birthday with the number 8 in it! 🥳 As W8’s CEO and Creative Director, I’m passionate about bringing joyful design to our projects and working alongside our amazing team to navigate the entitlement and permitting process.
🎂 Here’s to another year of creativity, collaboration, and making things happen!
Wild 8s.
We’ve got three Wild 8s to share this month! Our friend Jim Mellor spotted two—one in Heidelberg, Germany, and another in Salzburg, Austria. Meanwhile, Joseph is sharing a snapshot of Kairi-chan (his exchange grandchild) at a vertical mall on Aoba Jinja-dori Street in Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
📸 Have a Wild 8 of your own? Send it our way at Toby@workshop8.us—we’d love to see it!
In addition to looking for 8s in the WILD, we’re always on the lookout for octopi. Found an “8” or an octopus in an unexpected spot? Snap a pic and email it to Toby@workshop8.us.
Thanks for reading.
We’re grateful for your continued support and can’t wait to share more exciting updates with you throughout 2025! Stay tuned for next month’s updates, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to see what we’re designing, building, and celebrating next!
Brandy LeMae, CEO / Project Executive / Creative Director
