From Deadline to Delivery: Weitz Delivers Award-Winning Skyline at Highlands

Submitted by Kathy Jo Fyten, The Weitz Company

In May 2021, Grand Peaks approached Weitz to evaluate pricing for a development they planned to acquire. As both companies engaged in preconstruction efforts, it quickly became evident that Weitz would be the builder should the project move forward. A critical milestone had to be met to align with the City of Denver’s permitting deadlines: construction needed to begin, with foundations poured, by October 31, 2021. Achieving this in under five months for a project of this scale was a remarkable preconstruction feat.

Now known as Skyline at Highlands, the 26th and Alcott Project spans an entire city block in Denver’s Jefferson Park neighborhood. The development features two multifamily towers built atop a three-story post-tensioned parking garage. The garage is fully submerged at the northwest corner of the site and in daylight at the southeast corner. Without an active dewatering system, the structure functions like a submerged bathtub. With the water table sitting approximately two feet above the finished garage floor in the northwest corner, water infiltration posed one of the project’s most significant risks. However, through meticulous coordination with our waterproofing subcontractor and a rigorous quality control program, no signs of water penetration have been observed.

Above the garage, two load-bearing metal-framed towers rise, separated by a fourth-floor amenity deck featuring an outdoor pool, yoga studio, fitness center, media and game rooms, a club room, and two courtyards. The first tower, at three stories, contains 93 short-term rental units and is scheduled for turnover ahead of the second tower. The second tower, at 12 stories, houses 533 apartment-style residences, offering three distinct interior finish schemes differentiated by floor.

To mitigate supply chain risks and maximize cost efficiencies, Weitz leveraged its procurement network for key materials, including tower cranes, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, specialty items, appliances, and HVAC/plumbing equipment. Given the market volatility caused by the pandemic, an off-site warehouse was also secured to store materials early in the build, ensuring price stability for the client.

Standing 15 stories tall and comprising 626 units, Skyline at Highlands is the largest apartment complex in Denver to date, marking a significant milestone in the city’s residential development landscape. This project won NAIOP’s Multi-Family Development Project of the Year for 2024.