High-end multifamily resort communities are Haselden’s strongest segment. The contractor is building One Steamboat Place, a $145 million resort in Steamboat Springs, Colo.

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Any contractor that sets its sights on building a diverse range of projects knows that it takes specialized services and turnkey development solutions to be successful – at least that’s what Haselden Construction believes it takes, Senior Vice President Ron Ondrak says. For more than 30 years, the contractor has been serving the western United States, building a range of projects including healthcare, education, casino and gaming, mountain resort and hospitality projects, commercial, municipal and institutional facilities.

The company is supported by 350 construction professionals and employees ranging from project superintendents to carpenters and welders. Performing preconstruction, design/build, construction management and general contracting has solidified Haselden’s reputation as a turnkey provider in western states, specifically in Colorado, Wyoming and Arizona. although Ondrak says it’s willing to travel for its clients’ projects.

Mountain Resorts
As the residential construction market worsens, high-end multifamily resort communities have been the strongest segment for the firm. “There is a tremendous market for it right now, and although the upward trend started a couple of years ago, it has blossomed into quite a market,” Ondrak notes. “For some reason, it’s not as impacted by inflation issues and demand is up.”

Resort communities have been popping up in several parts of the Colorado Rockies, particularly in Snowmass, Keystone and Steamboat Springs. In spring 2007, the contractor broke ground on One Steamboat Place, a new luxury condominium project in Steamboat Springs, Colo.

The project is being developed by SV-Timbers Steamboat LLC. The $145 million resort is located at the base of the ski mountain, and will include restaurants, boutiques and a state-of-the-art spa. At approximately 450,000 square feet, the project will include three levels of parking, retail and commercial space, and private residences, each with its own view and high-end finishes. The three, six-level towers will feature 80 units. 38 of the units are being sold as whole-ownership residences ranging from 2,500 to 4,700 square feet – 35 of which are already sold, according to Timbers Co.

Based in Carbondale, Colo., Timbers Co. develops luxury residence clubs, boutique hotels and golf club communities around the world. According to Timbers Co. CEO David Burden, the current economic climate, although unstable, will continue to support the need for resort communities. “In this economy, we have been through a lot of things,” Burden notes. “9/11 was a bad time, but we basically decided to hunker down, but it also showed that we could keep going. I have been through slowdowns in the economy, but we have a great product and we have been very careful not to build product too fast.”

Burden says land in Steamboat Springs, for example, has proven ideal for a luxury resort because it offers year-round activities for visitors. One Steamboat Place will also be the first development in the area to cater to high-end clientele. “We don’t sell on price,” he says. “But we try to deliver the optimal product in the locations we’re in.”

“When we met Haselden, we knew it was a right fit,” Burden recalls. “The reputation they have was excellent and we made sure they had a lot of interface with the design process.

“We can rely on the information they’ve given us,” Burden continues. “They have a broad team at all levels of design and they showed us early on that we could depend on their numbers.”

Up to the Challenge
Record setting snowfall this winter along with tough site logistics at the base of the ski slopes have presented challenges for the contractor. “The biggest challenge this year is that we are within an inch-and-a-half of having the most snowfall we have ever had, and we’ve got two more weeks of winter to go,” Ondrak said in mid-March. To mitigate major project delays, Haselden purchased a machine that melts roughly 250 yards of snow per hour.

However, significant snow totals will also contribute to runoff once it melts off the mountain this spring. Working with a third-party consultant, Haselden has developed a comprehensive stormwater management program that utilizes snow fences and a track system for runoff water that safeguards the environment.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.

Well-Qualified
Although Haselden admits that its primary concerns are budget, schedule, quality and safety, it says it takes the time to invest in its clients’ businesses and learn about their processes, operations and overall vision.

An advanced preconstruction services department – the largest among its like-sized competitors, it claims – provides customers in-depth service right from a project’s inception. Staffed with conceptual and detail estimating specialists, as well as experts in mechanical and electrical disciplines, Haselden is able to quantify and price in detail every element of the project.

“The preconstruction department is one of our competitive strengths,” Ondrak notes. The department is operated by about 30 employees who run smaller teams who are assigned to the owners of any given project.

Haselden’s preconstruction services include:

• Schedule and phasing
• Cost estimating
• Budget development
• Regulatory investigation
• Bid-package development
• Value engineering
• Subcontractor prequalification
• Procurement
• Status reporting

“We have experienced people that understand what the owner and user wants and what’s important to him or her,” he says. “We look at the end-user when we build projects and build quality and timely projects for the people who are using the facilities we build.”

In 2007, Haselden ranked No. 225 on ENR’s Top 400 list of contractors. In 2006, it garnered the No. 2 spot on Colorado Construction magazine’s  annual list of top building general contractors/construction management firms.