About Us
As individuals we are impassioned by the American West.
As a firm we are its students, and its stewards.
What compels us about the West? The panoramas. The severity. The scarcity. The vigorous, pragmatic people. The treasures and scars of long human presence. People may think the West is simple. It’s not. It’s emphatic, but subtle. It’s rugged, but delicate. Enormous in complexity and nuance, the Western landscape has been the crucible of our firm’s values, and of our expertise.
DHM was founded over four decades ago in Denver. One of our earliest projects was the master plan for Genesee, a residential development committed to the preservation of its views, open space, and unique foothills ecosystem — a “conservation community,” before that concept was widely understood. Since then, we have opened offices in Carbondale and Durango, Colorado, and Bozeman and Missoula, Montana. From an original focus on the front range, our geographic base has expanded throughout the Great Basin and beyond. The scope of our work now includes planning and design for resort and residential communities, historic properties, civic spaces, local and National Parks, tribal lands, legacy ranches and high-end residences.
Given the nature of the West, a great deal of this work addresses very large sites. Half of it is in the public sector. Much of that has been conducted in the region’s monumental National Parks, where we have been restoring degraded environments and enhancing visitor experiences since our earliest days. The ethos of the National Parks, and the conservation and design principles we have practiced in them, translate to every project we take on: Protect natural systems and human history. Reveal opportunities for exploration and enjoyment. Leave a light footprint.
We are designers, and we are environmentalists. What we do is both art and science. We pursue the synergies between human patterns and natural systems. On every DHM project, landscape architects and ecologists work shoulder-to-shoulder. This blurring of boundaries and collaboration across disciplines is a trend now in our profession. It’s been our practice since we began.
What has our long and intimate connection with the West taught us? To cherish the region’s environment. To honor its cultural heritage. To know that both are fragile.
To speak plainly.
And to listen.
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Landscape Architecture
Our calling is to create balance between form and function, vision and budget, desire and need. With a holistic approach that incorporates programming, site characteristics, culture and history, architecture, drainage, and environmental factors, we create balanced outdoor spaces that satisfy diverse interests and fit within the larger context of environment and community.
· Master Planning
· Site Analysis/Design
· Revegetation Plans
· Concept Alternatives
· Public Facilitation
· Construction Documentation/Administration
· Landscape Assessments
Planning
As planners, we ask questions and work together to bring supported, aligned and creative solutions. DHM’s extensive experience across a wide variety of project types has resulted in planning processes that are scalable from national to local projects and function within both the public and private sectors.
· Entitlements and Approvals
· Regulation Review
· Annexation, Zoning/Rezoning
· Form Based Codes
· Subdividing
· Conservation Easements
· Permitting
· Reclamation
· Urban, Suburban and Rural Planning
Ecological
DHM Design is passionate about the integration of natural systems with human experiences. Our staff is dedicated to cultivating the integrity of the land’s ecology in every aspect of the planning and design process. DHM Design’s commitment to ecological planning applies to all projects, from large-scale private ranches to small urban parks.
· Due Diligence, Permitting, Mitigation & Restoration
· Restoration Ecology & Revegetation
· Overall Site Planning & Resource Avoidance
· Water Resource: Permitting , Wetland Delineation, Stormwater Pollution Prevention
· Compliance: NEPA, Phase I Environmental, Assessments, Inspections
· Visual Resource Analysis
· Wildlife: Threatened & Endangered Species, Habitat, Avian,
· State, Federal & Local Permitting
· Mitigation Planning: Invasive Species Management
· GIS Planning, Monitoring & Decision Support Tools
· Forestry & Forest Restoration
Urban Design
We are the orchestrators and managers of the planning and design processes, giving form and character to outdoor spaces, transportation, and site amenities. We solve challenges that arise through the planning, funding and consensus building process coupled with an underlying belief that better communities come from sustainable design solutions.
· Codes and Standards
· Development/Design Guidelines
· Streetscapes
· Metro Districts
· Infill
Visual Communication
Through a collaborative design process, we communicate stories, educate visitors, activate space and orient newcomers for the purpose of both navigation and discovery. More than a pretty picture, graphic visualizations are integral to the ongoing conversations that lead to well-conceived and artfully delivered projects.
· Visualization: Hand-Rendered Graphics, 3D Modeling, Photomontage, Digital + Print Media
· Wayfinding: Signage Design, Placemaking + Identity, Interpretive Signage, Monuments,
· Motion Graphics: Animations, Videography, Drone Footage & Integration
· Visual Identity: Logo + Branding Design, Digital + Print Media, Website Design
- All
- Leadership
2022
39th Avenue Greenway – CCASLA – Honor Award for Design
Pikes Peak Summit Complex – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design
West Meadows Residence – CCASLA – Honor Award for Design
2021
South Platte River Run Park – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design
39th Avenue Greenway – Best Landscape/Urban Development Project of the Year Finalist and Best Project – Engineering News Record Mountain States
2020
Coulson River Park – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design
2019
Civic Center Commons Park – Wyoming Engineering Society, Presidential Project Award, Grand Prize (see project)
Glenwood Hot Springs, Sopris Splash Zone – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design (see project)
Lyons Flood Recovery, Bohn Park – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design (see project)
South Platte River Run Park – APWA CO – Project of the Year
Snowmass Fire Station 71 – Firehouse Station Design Awards (SDA) – Gold Award for stations over 15,000 sq ft
2018
Ouray Hot Springs Renovation – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design (see project)
Ridgway Streetscape – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design (see project)
Ridgway Streetscape – APWA CO – Transportation Award for Small Towns (see project)
Ridgway Streetscape – Governor’s Award for Best Use of Public Space in a Small Town (see project)
Blue River Restoration, Breckenridge – APWA CO – Sustainability Award for Small Towns
2017
Roaring Fork River Restoration – CCASLA Merit Award for Design (see project)
2016
True Nature Healing Arts Center – Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence – Best New Addition to Downtown (see project)
2015
Basalt River Restoration – CASFM – Honor Award for Outstanding Achievement (see project)
Johnson Habitat Park – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design (see project)
Johnson Habitat Park – CASFM -Honor Award for Outstanding Achievement (see project)
Johnson Habitat Park – APWA -Parks & Trails – Large (see project)
DHM Storybooks – Book/Monograph – SMPS Colorado – Corporate Identity
West Edge Virtual Tour – International Economic Development Council (IEDC) – Bronze Award in New Media
2014
Brian’s Park Ice Rink – Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence – Best Adaptive Reuse of Public Space (see project)
Carbondale Library – CCASLA – Honor Award for Design (see project)
Sun Valley Riverfront Park – CCASLA -Honor Award for Design (see project)
True Nature Healing Arts – CCASLA -Merit Award for Design (see project)
DHM Website Design – SMPS Colorado – Corporate Identity
2013
GoCo Grant Toolkit – Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence – Best Professional Service in Action Award
2012
Cultural Landscape Report for Washington Square – BSLA – Honor Award for Landscape Analysis & Planning
2011
Ucross Ranch Master Plan – CCASLA – Land Stewardship Award for Planning (see project)
2009
The Arrabelle at Vail Square – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design (see project)
Carbondale Rec Center – CCASLA Merit Award for Design, Land Stewardship Award Designation (see project)
Columbine Memorial – CCASLA Honor Award for Design (see project)
Croke Reservoir – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design (see project)
2008
Wheeler Residence – CCASLA – Merit Award for Design (see project)
Aspen Community Campus – CCASLA Award Merit for Design
2007
Three Springs – CCASLA Merit Award for Planning (see project)
Wildhorse Ranch – ASLA Honor Award for Analysis & Planning (see project)
Wildhorse Ranch – Oregon ASLA Merit Award for Design (see project)
2006
Ye Olde Castlewood Park – Colorado Springs Downtown Action Plan, Partnership for Community Design Award
2005
Burlingame Ranch Affordable Housing – ASLA Honor Award for Analysis & Planning (see project )
2004
The Built Environment Guide for the National Forests and Grasslands – ASLA Merit Award in Communication
Littleton Residence – CCASLA Honor Award
Cherry Creek Residence – CCASLA Merit Award
2003
Mount Rushmore – CCASLA Honor Award for Design (see project)
Sequoia National Park – CCASLA President’s Award of Excellence for Design (see project)
Columbine Memorial – CCASLA Merit Award for Planning & Urban Design
2002
Aspen Community Campus – CCASLA Land Stewardship Award
Kuiper High Plains Xeriscape Garden – CCASLA Merit Award for Design & Land Steward Designation
2001
Sand Creek Greenway Master Plan – CCASLA Merit Award for Planning & Land Steward Designation (see project)
Westminster Promenade East – CCASLA Merit Award for Design
1999
Aspen Community Campus – CCASLA Award of Merit for Design
Moore Fields, Aspen Community Campus – CCASLA Merit Award for Design & Land Steward Designation
1997
Rocky Mountain National Park Employee Housing – CCASLA Merit Award for Planning
1996
Guanella Pass: Visual Inventory & Assessment – CCASLA Merit Award for Research & Communication
Westminster City Park – CCASLA Merit Award for Planning
1995
20th Street Corridor – AIA Award for Merit for Urban Design
1994
Mount Rushmore – CCASLA Honor Award for Design
The Preserve – CCASLA President’s Award
1990
Denver International Airport Landscape Master Plan -ASLA Honor Award
