From Vision to Reality in Silverton, Colorado
This inaugural newsletter details our mountain hotel development project in Silverton, Colorado, bringing together international design expertise from three continents. Our vision combines historic mining heritage with forward-thinking sustainability through mass timber construction, while celebrating the natural beauty that makes Silverton special. We've assembled a world-class team including concept architect Cristobal Noguera (Chile), architecture firm Woodblock (Portland, Oregon), interior design team Francesc Rife Studio (Spain), Structural Engineers Holmes (Portland, Oregon) and MEP Engineers WSP USA (Denver, Colorado). Currently in design development, we're targeting construction start in Q2 2026 with strong interest from potential equity partners and lenders.
Read more about Ben Blue on this site's about page.
Origin Story: Discovering Silverton
A Serendipitous Visit
The journey began almost three years ago when my wife Sophie and I made an unplanned stop in Silverton during a SW Colorado road trip in Summer 2022. Though we spent only half an hour in Silverton for lunch, the town made an immediate and profound impression on me. Despite Sophie being from Colorado's Rockies in the Roaring Fork Valley region, this area was new territory for both of us, located more than four hours from her hometown. That brief encounter sparked something special, compelling us to return in October 2022 to explore opportunities for making a life here. The connection with Silverton was so strong that by Spring 2023, approximately two years ago, we had purchased the commercial lot (that will become the site of our mountain hotel) and our full-time primary residence.
From Site to Vision
With my background in hotel management and food & beverage operations, hospitality was always in the back of my mind for this property. After reviewing Silverton's Town Master Plan, which specifically highlighted the need for additional lodging in the area, the concept began to crystallize. The combination of my hospitality experience, the town's documented needs, and the unique constraints and zoning of our commercial lot created the perfect foundation for a distinctive mountain hotel project. Initially, I explored various concepts, including an incubator for chefs and culinary professionals built around a "disconnect to reconnect" philosophy that embraced the area's powerful connection with nature. This outside-the-box thinking would eventually become a cornerstone of our development approach.
Assembling a World-Class Team
Finding the Concept Architect
The search for the right architectural vision led me to Cristobal Noguera, whose work I discovered on Instagram. His portfolio immediately resonated with me, showing an exceptional ability to honor historical contexts while bringing them into a modern sensibility. Cristobal's experience designing for remote mountain regions in the Andes and Patagonia made him particularly valuable for our project in Silverton, which sits at 9,318 feet elevation with significant snow loads and unique environmental considerations. After initial conversations revealed a strong connection, Cristobal visited Silverton in October 2023, approximately six months after we purchased the property. Together, we examined the site, researched building codes, consulted with the historic review requirements, and began developing the concept which respecting setbacks and other local requirements.
Meeting our Architect of Record at the Independent Lodging Conference
While developing the concept with Cristobal, I needed to find a U.S.-licensed architect of record, as Cristobal is based in Chile. A pivotal moment came during an alumni event for my hotel school when a colleague in the hospitality furniture business recommended I attend the Independent Lodging Conference (ILC). This conference reconnected me with my hospitality roots and reinforced my understanding that the hospitality business is fundamentally a real estate business. At the ILC in Austin and later in Denver, I met Michael Parshall from Woodblock Architecture, a Portland-based firm specializing in hospitality and commercial projects. Woodblock proved to be the perfect complement to our international team. Their expertise in hospitality design, commitment to sustainability, experience with mass timber construction, and understanding of local community engagement aligned perfectly with our vision. Their experience designing for seismic zones in the Pacific Northwest demonstrated a level of structural rigor that would benefit our mountain project, even though Silverton doesn't face the same earthquake concerns.
Completing the Vision: Barcelona and Beyond
The final piece of our design team came together when Cristobal and I traveled to Barcelona, Spain to meet with interior designer Francesc Rife and his team. Like Cristobal, Francesc's aesthetic deeply resonated with our vision - embracing simplicity, natural materials, a limited color palette, and a connection to the raw beauty of nature. This meeting in Barcelona was particularly special, marking Cristobal's first trip to Spain. Francesc Rife’s team extended incredible hospitality during our week there, further cementing the collaborative relationship that would help define the project.
Design Vision: Bridging Heritage and Future Connecting to Silverton's History
Our design concept draws a powerful through-line from Silverton's past to its future. The town began as uninhabited Indigenous Ute summer hunting grounds before European immigrants, primarily Italians and Austrians from mountainous regions-came seeking gold. This international mining heritage provides a historical precedent for our globally-influenced approach. The project's material choice of mass timber deliberately echoes the timber-framed mining structures of Silverton's heyday, creating a visual and conceptual link to the town's history while employing modern sustainable building practices.
A Forward-Looking Approach
While honoring the past, our design looks firmly to the future. We recognize that today's visitors come to Silverton primarily for its natural beauty, whether to witness aspen trees changing color, marvel at summer wildflowers, or engage in adventure sports like ultra-running and skiing. Our design philosophy embraces the idea that nature itself is the luxury, with simplicity, warmth, and sustainability as core values. This approach brings together three continents (North America, South America, and Europe) and multiple languages (Spanish and English) in a cross-cultural collaboration that mirrors the international character of Silverton's original settlers. By bringing outside perspectives to this special place, we aim to create something truly unique that still feels organically connected to its location.
Current Development Status
Navigating Design Challenges
The project is currently in the design development phase, where the fundamental structure and systems are being finalized. Woodblock Architecture has been instrumental in navigating the complex code compliance process, particularly challenging given our compact 25′ × 100′ lot. Critical design points have included incorporating two required exit staircases and an elevator while maximizing usable guest space-no small feat given our site constraints. Adding to the complexity, Silverton has recently undergone a code rewrite based on their recent master plan, creating a shifting regulatory landscape that our team has had to navigate carefully. Weekly coordination meetings are now generating significant momentum, with all engineering disciplines working in harmony with our design-first approach. Unlike conventional projects where designers often adapt to predetermined structural layouts, our process puts design vision at the forefront, with all technical elements supporting that vision.
Upcoming Milestones
We're currently working toward a complete builder set of plans with detailed specifications for all systems, materials, fixtures, and finishes. This comprehensive package will be used to obtain accurate construction pricing from builders and will form the basis for final financing commitments from banks and equity partners. A highly productive in-person coordination meeting took place this month in Portland, bringing together Cristobal (concept architect), Woodblock (architect of record), and Holmes (structural engineers). This in-person deep dive was complemented by video calls with our Spanish interior design team and Denver-based WSP engineering consultants who are handling mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
Financial Outlook and Timeline
Investment Structure
In parallel with the design process, we've been working with excellent consulting and legal partners to develop the investment structure for the project. This has involved determining accurate building costs, identifying potential equity partners, and engaging with banks for construction financing. The response from both potential equity investors and lenders has been positive, with strong interest contingent upon the final details and costs that will emerge from our current design development process.
Construction Timeline
The development has received unanimous votes in favor from both the Town Board of Trustees and Historic Review Committee. We are fully entitled for construction, pending plan review and building permits, and do not expect to request any adjustments or variance to code. Based on our current progress, we anticipate breaking ground in approximately 12 months, targeting Q2 2026 for the start of construction. This timeline allows for completion of the construction documents, final pricing, securing of all financing, and obtaining building permit.
A Vision Taking Shape
As we continue to develop this unique mountain hotel for Silverton, we're excited by the exceptional team we've assembled and the distinctive vision taking shape. By bringing together international design expertise with local context and requirements, we're creating something that honors Silverton's rich history while looking confidently toward its future.
The project represents not just a business venture but a labor of love and commitment to this special mountain community. We believe the result will be a property that offers guests an authentic connection to Silverton's natural beauty and cultural heritage, delivered through thoughtful, sustainable design. We look forward to sharing more developments in future newsletters as our vision continues to evolve into reality. Thank you for your interest and support as we embark on this exciting journey.
