Why We Chose Studio Co+Hab as Our Architectural Partner

One of the most important decisions any cohousing community makes is selecting its architectural partner. While architects are often associated with floor plans, elevations, and construction drawings, their role in a cohousing community goes far beyond designing buildings. They help translate a community's values into physical spaces, facilitate visioning conversations, and create environments that encourage connection, sustainability, accessibility, and belonging.

For Gratitude Village Colorado, choosing the right architectural partner was a decision we approached with great care.

Over the course of several weeks, a committee of Founding Members conducted interviews with five architectural firms from across the country. Three were Colorado-based firms: Caddis in Boulder, NoMiLab in Englewood, and Yes And! Architecture in Denver. We also interviewed two nationally recognized firms from outside Colorado: Schemata from Seattle and Studio Co+Hab from Bozeman, Montana.

Each firm brought unique strengths and perspectives to the table. The interviews were thoughtful, engaging, and often inspiring. We were fortunate to have several highly qualified firms interested in helping bring Gratitude Village to life.

After the initial round of interviews, the committee narrowed the field to three finalists: Caddis, NoMiLab, and Studio Co+Hab. The Gratitude Village Board of Directors then conducted two additional rounds of interviews with the finalists, digging deeper into topics such as sustainability, community engagement, accessibility, affordability, development experience, and long-term project support.

The decision was not easy.

All three firms came with outstanding references. In fact, one of the most consistent themes we heard from former clients was how much they enjoyed working with these teams and how highly they regarded their professionalism and expertise.

Caddis brought extensive cohousing experience and a deep bench of talent. They have participated in numerous cohousing projects throughout North America and currently have several projects underway in the Denver metropolitan area. Their experience and organizational capacity made them a strong contender.

NoMiLab impressed us with their energy, creativity, and fresh perspective. Their team brought a unique urban design sensibility and experience working in the affordable housing sector. We also appreciated the diversity represented within the firm's ownership and leadership team, along with their enthusiasm for our vision.

Studio Co+Hab offered something particularly compelling. The firm's principals were trained by Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant, the architects who introduced cohousing to the United States and helped launch the movement more than three decades ago. They also designed and helped develop Bozeman Cohousing, recognized as the first Net Zero cohousing community in the United States.

Additionally, principal architect Erik Bonnett previously worked with the Rocky Mountain Institute, an organization widely respected for its leadership in energy efficiency, sustainable design, and climate solutions. This combination of cohousing expertise and sustainability experience aligned closely with several of Gratitude Village's core goals.

As we evaluated the finalists, we kept returning to a fundamental question: Which firm is best positioned to help us create the kind of community we envision?

At Gratitude Village, we are not simply building housing. We are creating a neighborhood intentionally designed around connection, accessibility, affordability, sustainability, and well-being. We wanted a partner who understood that mission and could help us bring it to life.

Ultimately, several factors led us to select Studio Co+Hab.

First was their deep understanding of sustainability. Gratitude Village aims to become a model for environmentally responsible neighborhood design, incorporating high-performance buildings, energy efficiency, and thoughtful site planning. Studio Co+Hab's experience in these areas stood out throughout the interview process.

Second was the firm's nimbleness. As a smaller firm, Studio Co+Hab demonstrated an ability to be highly responsive and engaged. We felt they were genuinely excited about the opportunity to work with our community and invested in helping make the project successful.

Third was cost. Like many community-led developments, Gratitude Village must carefully steward its resources. Studio Co+Hab presented a proposal that aligned well with our budget while still providing the expertise and services we needed.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we appreciated the way they communicated. Throughout the interview process, their responses were clear, thoughtful, and thorough. They provided detailed answers without overwhelming us with jargon or complexity. They demonstrated an ability to explain sophisticated concepts in ways that community members could easily understand, a skill that will be invaluable as we move into the participatory design process.

Selecting an architectural partner is an important milestone, but it is only the beginning of the journey.

Over the coming months, Studio Co+Hab will work closely with our members, development team, and future residents through a series of six design workshops and collaborative planning sessions. Together, we will explore how homes, pathways, common spaces, gardens, gathering areas, and neighborhood amenities can support the relationships and lifestyle we hope to foster.

The physical design of a cohousing community matters because it shapes daily life. The placement of a front porch, the location of a playground, the visibility of a common house, and the walkability of a neighborhood all influence how often neighbors connect and how strong those connections become over time.

We are excited to partner with Studio Co+Hab as we move from vision to design and, eventually, from design to reality.

The future Gratitude Village neighborhood will be the result of many voices, many ideas, and many hands working together. We believe Studio Co+Hab is the right partner to help guide that process, and we look forward to sharing the journey with you.

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