Our Stories.
From May 9th to June 8th, WORKSHOP8 was buzzing with creativity and just a little bit of obsession. We honored Asian American and Jewish American Heritage Months, revealed satisfying before-and-afters from our Overlook rehab, and kept swooning over progress at StarRise. We picked out fabrics for furniture, explored roof forms in SketchUp, recognized Elena’s birthday, imagined Maria as an octopus, and kept our eyes peeled for 8s in the wild. Just another colorful month at W8.
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Appreciation.
AAPI Heritage Month Spotlight : Dennis Hoshiko
This May, we honored Dennis Hoshiko — grandson of Japanese immigrants. In 2020, Dennis donated a 6.5-acre industrial property in Greeley, formerly home to the North Weld Produce Company, to High Plains Housing Development Corporation. This generous gift laid the foundation for StarRise at North Weld Village, a 58-unit Permanent Supportive Housing project designed to provide stable housing and comprehensive support services for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
We also celebrate my Japanese heretage. My great-great-grandmother, Hiro Komiya, came from a prominent Yokohama family. In 1869, Hiro married German immigrant Julius Helm. The Komiya family crest — crossed hawk feathers — symbolizes strength and resilience. Brandy’s cousin, Leslie Helm, explores this rich history in his memoir, Yokohama Yankee, tracing five generations of the Helm family in Japan and the complexities of living between cultures.
Jewish Heritage Month Spotlight : George Nelson
Born in Hartford, CT to Jewish parents, George Nelson shaped the language of American modernism. As Director of Design at Herman Miller (1945–72), he introduced icons like the Ball Clock and Storagewall, and coined creativity as a series of “zaps” — sudden sparks of inspiration. Thanks for the zaps, George.
We’re still smitten with:
• Bubble Pendants – always glowing
• Ball Clock – impossible not to smile
• Swag Leg Desk – swoon-worthy metal curves
WORKSHOP8 specified iconic Nelson Bubble Lamps at Spring Creek and Fall River projects.
Work.
Overlook | Thornton : REHAB REVEAL
We love a good glow-up—and this one’s for the residents!
In partnership with Maiker Housing Partners and Palace Construction, WORKSHOP8 helped modernize 160 units at Overlook at Thornton — breathing new life into aging units. The updates bring fresh finishes, improved accessibility, and a touch of dignity to every space.
StarRise | Greeley : We just can’t stop showing off this adaptive reuse gem!
From honed concrete floors to reclaimed brick and timber, every inch of StarRise at North Weld Village tells a story — blending history and modern design with intention.
Take a peek behind the scenes: Honed concrete floors, Asanoha-pattern railings, The “Truth Door” (yes, really!), and Reclaimed materials, reused with purpose.
Designed by WORKSHOP8 for High Plains Housing and built by KCI Construction, this project proves that preserving history can go hand in hand with creating community. Progress never looked so good.
FF&E field trip to interior environments in Denver
Chelsea, Maria and I dove headfirst into a sea of samples — pleathers, laminates, and fabrics galore — selecting common area finishes and previewing durable furniture for Permanently Supportive Housing (PSH) units at StarRise. We’re talking bold patterns, practical textures, and pieces built to last. Can’t wait to see this palette come to life.
Design.
Playing with Roof Forms
These concept studies explore how roof lines and massing can shape the character of a building—balancing function, identity, and visual rhythm. All created in SketchUp by our Architect Principal, Joseph Vigil.
The Team.
MAY 27TH : Happy Birthday, Elena!
Architectural designer, toddler-chasing, dog-cuddling wonder. One of the kindest and most inquisitive humans on our team. Elena brings heart and humor to everything she does.
Just for Fun.
Imagine Me as an Octopus!
Maria had the brilliant idea to imagine us all as octopi — multitaskers of the deep.
Naturally, we turned to our AI buddy Chad (aka ChatGPT) to bring the vision to life.
Here’s Maria: wrangling drawings, details, and deadlines like the design cephalopod she is.
WILD 8s
C4C Fundraiser • Table 8 • Boulder
Coalition for Cyclists is making serious moves—advocating for safer cycling in Boulder County by working with communities and governments to shape policy and speed up infrastructure improvements. This year’s fundraiser raised an impressive $107,000 through donations and sponsorships! And yes, Joseph and I just happened to land at Table 8. Coincidence? I think not.
Does spotting a Wild 8 while watching TV count? I say yes.
I caught this one during a High Potential binge and couldn’t resist hitting pause. While it’s not what we’d call “designed,” it is an 8 — rules are rules.
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 highlights, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to see what we’re designing, building, and celebrating next!
Brandy LeMae
CEO / Project Executive / Creative Director