Aging facilities at Colorado Resort destinations are yielding to more upscale developments

DENVER, July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Colorado has long been known as a Mecca for world-class ski resorts such as Vail, Aspen, and Telluride. But over the last decade, resorts such as Breckenridge, Beaver Creek, Winter Park, and Steamboat have evolved into four-season destinations, gaining as much revenue from summer and fall visitors as from skiers. OZ Architecture, one of the top resort design firms in the U.S. is designing projects in almost every resort town statewide. They believe we are seeing one of the largest surges in Colorado Resort reconstruction to date.

"Over the last decade, we've watched Colorado's ski towns evolve from winter-only resorts to year-round vacation communities," noted Becky Stone, Principal at OZ, who leads the Snowmass and Winter Park projects at OZ Architecture. "Resorts are investing billions of dollars to accommodate the luxury-seeker by renovating and restoring aging facilities and creating new, lavish communities."

As many of Colorado's mountain resorts approach the half-century mark, facilities built in the 1960s and 70s no longer fit today's expectations of luxury. "If you look at most of the Colorado Resorts, major redevelopments are under way. The goal is to create a higher caliber of resort living," said Eduardo Illanes, Principal at OZ.

Illanes is currently heading up resort projects in Steamboat Springs and Vail. This summer and over the next few years, tourists will be seeing a bounty of OZ projects at virtually all of the state's marquee destinations. "We are a home-grown Colorado firm, and we are very proud to be part of the resort work here," said Andy White, OZ Principal leading the new Westin Riverfront Resort in Avon.

In Winter Park, Intrawest Placemaking and OZ are collaborating on Phase One of the 10-15 year build out of the Village at Winter Park Resort. The first phase of the expansion is expected to cost more than $70 million and will include two new residential condominium buildings (Frasers Crossing and Founders Pointe) with a total of 194 residences, 20,000 square feet of retail space and an open-air gondola to move visitors from parking lots to the Village.

"The Village is slated to provide an intimate pedestrian core that will bring life, vitality and high-end clientele to Winter Park," said Becky Stone. "We are creating a full service, year round resort to compete with neighboring world-class ski areas."

In Aspen, work has begun on a $450 million-plus development of the Snowmass Base Village. OZ was one of three firms selected to design an estimated 1 million square feet of new development, including more than 600 hotel rooms and condos and 65,000 square feet of commercial space. Phase One is currently in construction and includes a children's learning center, condos, retail and skier parking, road and infrastructure improvements, and a transportation center.

Steamboat Springs is also seeing significant new developments of entire villages, condo residences and retail facilities, including Wildhorse Meadows Resort Community, and a redevelopment of the prominent Clock Tower into a luxurious resort village.

Vail is seeing immense changes as well. With the Billion Dollar Renewal, sleek and modern projects are emerging. OZ designed Torzetto, a contemporary new offering in East Vail comprised of six luxurious duplexes for Miner Street Partners, Inc. In addition, OZ and Lionshead, LLC are collaborating on Fogata Lodge, a new condominium project at the entry to Lionshead Village. These luxury residences are slated to be clean, contemporary and provocative spaces with expansive natural day lighting and vaulted ceilings.

"Colorado ski communities attract millions of visitors and part-time residents to Colorado each year," said OZ Principal Michael Noda. "Now more than ever they must adapt and revitalize to maintain a competitive edge."

In addition to Winter Park, Snowmass, Steamboat Springs and Vail, OZ is contributing to redevelopment projects in Keystone, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, Granby, Crested Butte, and Telluride, Colorado. OZ is also leading many high-profile resort design projects in locations around the nation including The Village at Northstar, California; Tamarack Resort, Idaho; Hilton Grand Vacation Club and Waldorf Astoria Villas in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada; Verasa Resort in Napa, California; and Palm Coast Condo/Hotel in Florida.

ABOUT OZ: OZ Architecture provides a full range of architectural, planning and interior design services to clients throughout the United States and around the world. Founded in 1964, OZ integrates the broad experience, varied disciplines and diverse backgrounds of its professionals to encourage innovation across projects, practices and client cultures. The firm has established itself as a leader in sustainable development, having championed environmentally responsible designs well before LEED(TM) guidelines were in place. In addition, the firm's community planning expertise has revitalized resort communities across North America and provided visionary leadership toward the rebirth of the African nation of Rwanda. OZ Architecture maintains studios in Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs in Colorado, as well as in Lake Tahoe, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit http://www.ozarch.com/.

Source: OZ Architecture

CONTACT: Maria Mobley, , of OZ Architecture; or Sarah Stavros or Keyonna Harvey, , both of Vanguard Communications, for OZ Architecture

Web site: http://www.ozarch.com/