Central Park Denver lives within the master plan community redevelopment of the former Stapleton International Airport. Beginning in 2000, Forest City transformed 7.5 miles of runways, concourses and terminals into a vibrant community–and the largest urban in-fill redevelopment in the country. This project is currently home to more than 20,000 residents and 12,000 homes (including 8,000 single-family units and 4,000 apartments). The community features 917 acres of parks and open space as well as more than two million square feet of destination, specialty and neighborhood-serving retail.

Denver is an active city with an innovative original plan, and the team saw this as an opportunity to knit this expansive, 5,000-acre space within the fabric of the city. It’s a project Forest City won through public competition–and ended up winning awards for, too. (It was awarded the Sustainability Award from the King of Norway, no less.) Aiming to emulate the rest of Denver, the density of Stapleton was strategically designed to be at the same level, thus better supporting local schools, fire stations and public transportation.

When planning the design of Central Park, Forest City took cues from the home base of Shaker Heights; putting the focus on smaller lots with more public space, and designing every home to be within walking distance of a school, park and grocery store. Keeping safety top of mind, the design plan included uninterrupted sidewalks and fewer street lanes for maximum walkability. Front porches attached to many homes emphasize the sense of community. It’s a living example of progressive, sustainable design: energy efficiency, environmentally-friendly construction practices, adherence to water conservation and indoor air quality best practices were all part of the overarching vision.