Basalt Center Circle, The Midland Residences: A Community-Focused Design

Meet the Team Building Basalt’s Newest Community Landmark

Downtown Basalt is entering a new era, and at the center of it is a project rooted in collaboration. Basalt Center Circle isn’t just a new development; it’s a collective effort to thoughtfully shape the future of a place so many call home. From architects and interior designers to civil engineers, landscape architects, and modular housing specialists, the team brought together a shared sense of purpose: designing a more connected, livable Basalt.

The project’s residential component, The Midland Residences, reflects that collaboration in action. While Basalt Center Circle refers to the full mixed-use site, The Midland Residences is the name given to the 65 modular homes that will help meet the region’s growing need for housing with quality, efficiency, and intention. Together, they represent a holistic vision for the next chapter of downtown life.

Revitalizing Downtown Basalt

Set on the site of a former grocery store, the Basalt Center Circle development is both a physical and symbolic renewal. Located in the heart of historic downtown Basalt, this project brings new life to a long-underutilized block, creating space for local businesses, homes, and daily connections.

Designed by Z Group Architecture & Interior Design, the development introduces approximately 10,000 square feet of commercial space alongside the 65-residence Midland community. But more than numbers or square footage, this is about reinvesting in the social and architectural fabric of Basalt, ensuring growth that feels authentic, accessible, and deeply tied to place.

Rooted in Place, Designed for the Future

Set on the former site of Clark’s Market, Basalt Center Circle is a reimagining of familiar ground. For years, this central downtown parcel remained quiet until a community-focused vision took shape. Working closely with local partners, Z Group helped transform the underutilized site into a mixed-use hub that blends daily convenience with long-term impact. Local businesses like Jimbo’s Liquor, a European-style café, a modern grocery store, and a food hall bring fresh energy to the block and reestablish it as a neighborhood cornerstone.

Above it, The Midland Residences is a collection of 65 modular homes that introduces thoughtfully designed, energy-efficient housing for residents of the Roaring Fork Valley. Developed in partnership with NorthStar Homes, these factory-built units support a faster, more sustainable approach to construction, while offering consistency in quality. Scheduled for completion by summer 2026, the residences aim to ease pressure on the local housing market and create new opportunities for people to live within walking distance of work, school, and community amenities.

From the beginning, the team worked toward a common goal: honoring Basalt’s character while building with the future in mind. Each contributor brought a personal perspective to that mission, bridging past and present, permanence and change.

“Basalt Center Circle represents a unique opportunity to reconnect a vital piece of the town’s fabric with its future. Our focus was on designing something rooted in legacy but built to elevate the everyday experience for residents and visitors alike.”— Scott McHale, Principal & Director of Design

A Team-Driven Transformation

This project is more than a professional undertaking, it is a shared labor of love. Every phase, from navigating land use approvals to refining the smallest interior details, is shaped by the collective commitment and creativity of a deeply invested team. For the designers, this is about helping shape a place that feels like home, a place they will frequent themselves alongside the community.

The Team Who Built the Vision:

• Seth Hmielowski, Senior Principal, AIA NCARB, ASID, LEED AP

• Scott McHale, Principal & Director of Design, LEED AP

• Randy Henrie, Senior Associate, NCARB, LEED AP

• Marina Skiles, Senior Interior Architect, AIA

• Katie Hmielowski, Project Manager & Architectural Designer, LEED AP

• Matt Ott, Project Manager & Architectural Designer

• Amy Coy, Interior Designer

• Jessye Ebbinghouse, Interior Design Assistant

Throughout the process, the team remains nimble and collaborative, especially as they navigated the unique design and delivery considerations of modular construction. This approach required fresh thinking, adaptive problem-solving, and a deep trust in one another’s expertise.

During work sessions, modular design sparked dynamic conversations about precision, flexibility, and how to retain warmth in spaces built off-site. These dialogues helped shape a process that felt innovative yet deeply personal.

“Every design challenge is met with creativity, patience, and teamwork. Modular construction posed new hurdles, but it also opens fresh opportunities for design innovation.”— Randy Henrie, Senior Associate & Project Manager

Projects like this also offer a space for growth, where early-career designers and seasoned architects collaborate side by side, exchanging ideas, refining workflows, and strengthening the firm’s collective expertise.

Collaboration Beyond the Studio

While Z Group guided the architectural and interior design vision for Basalt Center Circle, a diverse team of collaborators truly shaped the project, each contributing their craft, experience, and local knowledge to bring the vision to life.

Shaw Construction served as general contractor, translating design into built form with a steady hand and deep understanding of the site. NorthStar Homes, specialists in modular construction, helped ensure that efficiency didn’t come at the expense of design integrity, balancing factory-built systems with the nuances of site-sensitive architecture.

Behind the scenes, trusted regional engineering partners laid the foundation for a resilient and responsive design.

• Bighorn Consulting Engineers brought clarity and innovation to the project’s MEP systems.

• Evolve Structural Design provided structural strategies that supported both modular and traditional construction.

• Sopris Engineering ensured civil solutions aligned with the project’s context and community goals.

• Connect One Design completed the picture with a landscape architecture plan that weaves together green space, walkability, and gathering areas, ensuring Basalt Center Circle is as welcoming outside as it is inside.

Together, this constellation of partners helped move the project from concept to community, shaping not just buildings but experiences and connection to Basalt’s current town aesthetics.

Architecture That Echoes the Community

At Z Group, design always begins with place. For Basalt Center Circle, that meant looking closely at the town’s roots and surrounding landscape for guidance. Inspiration came from the legacy of the Colorado Midland Railway, the texture of aged brick and steel, the light off the Roaring Fork River, and the quiet tones of the valley. The result is a project that feels grounded in its setting, even as it looks forward.

Throughout the development, the entire team left its imprint. From modular construction strategies to hand-selected interior finishes, each decision was made with care to reflect Basalt’s unique character.

The commercial spaces were designed to reenergize the block, welcoming foot traffic, supporting local businesses, and creating opportunities for daily connection. In contrast, the residences offer a quieter experience: homes that feel peaceful, personal, and rooted in the rhythm of the valley.

“We wanted the interiors to feel connected to the town, to the rivers, to the mountains. It’s about telling Basalt’s story and making space for the stories yet to be written.”— Amy Coy, Interior Designer

Amy’s focus on connection, to place, people, and story, is a consistent theme at Z Group. For Z Group Interior Design, it isn’t just about finishes or fixtures, it is about crafting a sense of belonging through texture, tone, and light.

“I’m excited to see the area transform and become activated again, since it’s felt stagnant for a long time. Hoping for a market or restaurant in the commercial space so we have some new options in town.”— Jessye Ebbinghouse, Interior Design Assistant

Jessye’s perspective echoed what many at Z Group express: a personal connection to Basalt’s evolution. With the firm just steps from the site, the team brought not only design expertise but local insight into every decision.

“It’s been rewarding to see how the modular system allowed us to innovate while still achieving warmth and personality in the finished spaces. There’s nothing generic about these units.”— Matt Ott, Project Manager & Architectural Design

Matt’s reflection highlights the project's key challenge and triumph: how to push the possibilities of modular design while preserving individuality and comfort. Close collaboration between architecture and interior design made that vision a reality.

“Creating visualizations for this project challenged me to honor Basalt’s character while exploring new rendering tools. It’s been amazing to watch those digital concepts evolve into something real and meaningful.”— Katie Hmielowski, Project Manager & Architectural Design

Katie’s work bridged concept and reality, bringing the design to life in ways clients, collaborators, and community members could see, understand, and connect with. Her process reflects a broader firm culture: one that values innovation, storytelling, and emotional resonance.

Buzzing with Anticipation

As construction progresses, Basalt Center Circle is already stirring conversation and optimism throughout the community. Locals are watching closely, curious and hopeful about what’s unfolding on this long-quiet site. For many, it represents more than just new buildings; it’s a sign of thoughtful growth rooted in the community's needs.

The energy surrounding the project speaks to the team’s approach: collaborative, people-focused, and deeply invested in Basalt’s future. Every decision, whether architectural or logistical, is made with connection and community in mind, between professionals, between disciplines, and most importantly, between people and place.

“This project demonstrates what’s possible when a community-focused vision meets an agile, passionate team. We’re not just creating structures, we’re building the foundation for a more connected, vibrant Basalt.”— Seth Hmielowski, Senior Principal

“The energy of this team is diligent, collaborative, and passionate. We’re proud to create something that truly belongs to Basalt.”— Randy Henrie, Senior Associate & Project Manager

A Lasting Legacy, One Story at a Time

At Z Group, every project begins with a story, and Basalt Center Circle is one of renewal, of teamwork, and of care for a place and its people. What’s rising in historic downtown Basalt is more than a development; it’s a legacy in the making, shaped by many hands and rooted in shared intention.

Legacy is about lasting impacts through collaboration, and this project reflects what can happen when architects, engineers, designers, builders, civic leaders, and neighbors come together to design for both today and tomorrow.

The story of Basalt Center Circle is also the story of Z Group’s culture in action, where collaboration isn’t just a method, but a mindset. Trust, curiosity, and mutual respect within the team help bring this vision to life, one decision at a time.

From land use meetings to finish selections, every part of the process was grounded in dialogue and purpose. The result is a project that’s meant to live and breathe with the town, inviting people in, sparking connection, and evolving with the community it serves.

“One of the most rewarding parts of this project has been to engage with the broader community; the town government, the developers, our amazing artistic culture, and local residents. Design is all about connection. We look forward to seeing this building make connections throughout our community and beyond.”— Marina Skiles, Senior Interior Architect

Ready to bring your vision to life?

Whether you're shaping a neighborhood or reimagining a single site, our team would love to hear your story.

📞 (970) 925-1832 | ✉️ info@zgrouparchitects.com