Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge

The Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge (RMREC) is a real-world development competition between graduate level real estate programs at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver and the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder. Finalist teams compete for scholarships, future employment, and ultimately the NAIOP Cup! A panel of highly respected judges make the ultimate call on which development plan is the best for the site. The competition, hosted by NAIOP, culminates at the main event, providing one of the best networking opportunities in the industry. Over 700 real estate professionals attend, including developers, attorneys, lenders, architects, brokers, engineers, contractors and public officials. 

RMREC 2026: Call for Projects

Now Accepting Submissions for the Featured Project Sponsor
Extended Deadline: September 30, 2025

Be the Centerpiece of Colorado's Leading Real Estate Competition

NAIOP Colorado is now accepting project site submissions for the 2026 Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge (RMREC) — a nationally recognized intercollegiate real estate competition connecting graduate students, industry leaders, and visionary real-world development opportunities.

As the Featured Project Sponsor, your site becomes the focal point of a dynamic academic and professional collaboration - generating bold ideas, strategic input, and widespread visibility. 

Why Submit a Project?

As the Featured Project Sponsor, you'll gain:  

• Strategic collaboration with student teams, NAIOP volunteers, and top industry professionals 
• Local and national exposure through NAIOP Colorado marketing and Challenge-related events
• Innovative development ideas from graduate students at the University of Colorado and University of Denver
• Creative, feasible strategies that support your current vision and inspire future planning  
• Increased visibility within the local and national development community
• Exposure to 700+ annual participants across Challenge-related programming and events
• Marketing reach to 10,000+ real estate professionals across Colorado and beyond
  
• Association with a legacy of successful sites, including The River Mile, Victory Crossing, Denver International Airport (DEN), and More.

This is more than a student competition - it's a unique opportunity to advance your project with real estate industry engagement and creative thinking.

Is Your Site a Fit?

We're looking for sites that offer real-world complexity, educational value, and creative flexibility. Ideal candidate sites typically meet the following criteria:

• Size: Approximately 15 to 20 acres
• Site Makeup: Mixed-use or multiple-use opportunities preferred
• Development Status: Early-stage or conceptual. A blank slate or redevelopment opportunity with potential for repositioning or transformation. 
• Flexibility: Supports a variety of development solutions, structural approaches, and phasing strategies
• Community Impact: Opportunity to contribute to neighborhood and regional improvement
• Vision: Strong sponsor leadership with interest in creative exploration and mentoring the next generation of real estate talent

 Key Details

• Event Date: Q2 2026 (Late April/Early May)
• Extended Submission Deadline: September 30, 2025
• Sponsor Role: Active collaboration with student teams, NAIOP volunteers, and industry-wide resources throughout the Challenge timeline

Proven Platform. Powerful Results.

Now in its 24th year, the Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge has earned its reputation as the region’s leading student-focused real estate competition — designed to generate real ideas for real projects.

As a Featured Project Sponsor, your site will benefit from:

• 1,500+ hours of dedicated industry input focused directly on your site
• 700+ Challenge participants annually
• Marketing and visibility to 10,000+ real estate professionals statewide and nationally
• Inspiration from the best and brightest real estate students at CU and DU
• Enduring value from a community of public- and private-sector leaders ready to support bold ideas

Submit Your Project

To learn more or discuss your potential site, please contact any member of the RMREC Site Selection Subcommittee:

About the Challenge

The Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge (RMREC) is a unique, real-world development competition that engages graduate students from CU and DU in a semester-long analysis of a real site. Teams present their proposals at a high-profile final event attended by Colorado’s top developers, investors, architects, and civic leaders — offering unmatched exposure and strategic input for the selected project.

WINNING CONCEPT: “THORNTON GATEWAY” BY BLUE JAY DEVELOPMENT (UNIVERSITY OF DENVER)

Blue Jay Development’s “Thornton Gateway” concept proposed a bold, phased redevelopment strategy anchored by a dynamic mix of retail, wellness, residential, and community-serving uses. Key highlights of their proposal included: 

• 238 multi-family units balanced across studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments.
• A thoughtful site layout that prioritized walkability, activation, and multi-modal transportation.
• A catalytic anchor grocery and food + beverage mix featuring a food incubator, brewpub, and coffee roaster.
• Use of Opportunity Zone financing, TIF, and public-private capital stack strategies to support the $96.8 million total project cost.
• Sensitivity to zoning limitations and site challenges, with a vision to “catalyze South Thornton” and forge a new community identity. 

CU BOULDER'S “MILLER’S MARKET” PROPOSAL: A VISION OF PLACE AND PURPOSE

The University of Colorado Boulder’s Three Peaks Collective delivered a compelling vision for "Miller’s Market" - a vibrant, mixed-use district centered around a lively public plaza and community-first design. Highlights included:

• A 40,000 SF central plaza framed by The Barns and Rooftop Row dining and retail experiences.
• A fitness collective, affordable apartment housing (90% AMI), and for-sale townhomes to encourage diverse housing options.
• Projected 25-year tax revenue of $45M, 200+ jobs, and 800,000 annual visitors.
• A forward-looking plan that integrated community garden spaces, public art, and year-round activation. 

Though CU’s team ultimately finished as runner-up, their creative approach to placemaking and emphasis on long-term community impact garnered strong praise from the judges and city representatives alike. 

A CATALYST FOR THORNTON’S FUTURE

The 2025 Challenge came at a pivotal time for Thornton, as the city prepares to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) later this year. “We are thrilled to see such thoughtful, catalytic visions for a site that is so meaningful to our community,” said Chad Howell, Redevelopment Administrator for the City of Thornton. “Both teams listened, responded, and offered real pathways to make this a place people are proud to visit and call home.” 

The city plans to use the concepts presented during the Challenge to help shape and inform its RFP strategy for the site — with real potential for student visions to influence future development.  “The Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge not only provided valuable real-world experience for the teams of students," said Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann. It also brought significant visibility to this important project we have been working on for years as we prepare to solicit quality redevelopment proposals.” 

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

NAIOP Colorado and Land Title Guarantee Company extend sincere thanks to all the sponsors, mentors, judges, and city representatives who made this year’s Challenge possible. Special appreciation goes to the City of Thornton for serving as the 2025 Project Sponsor and opening its doors to innovation and collaboration. 

This annual event continues to spotlight the next generation of real estate leaders while giving back to the communities that shape our region. As Brandon Kramer, NAIOP Colorado’s president, noted, “The Challenge is more than a competition. It’s a launching pad for future talent and a real-time lab for solving real-world problems.” 

For more information about the Challenge or to get involved, visit www.naiop-colorado.org.

VIEW EVENT PHOTOS AND STUDENT RESOURCES

View and download event photos: https://naiopcolorado.zenfolio.com/rmrec2025 

Explore student plans and resumes: Student Teams and Proposals

 

     

AFTER PARTY SPONSOR:

 

COMPETING UNIVERSITIES:

                

ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES:

           

     GENERAL CONTRACTOR RESOURCES: