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.


CALL FOR 2024 PROJECTS! SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT FOR CONSIDERATION

Selected Project Sponsor will benefit from several hundred hours of consulting time and effort by a variety of graduate students, multiple high profile architectural firms and well respected real estate development professionals.

All interested parties who wish to have their property considered for the 2024 Challenge site should submit the following information to NAIOP:

• Clearly identify the property, by name, or best means to identify the parcel under consideration.
• Identify the property address, location and if possible parcel and/or legal description.
• Provide a narrative that best describes the unique project aspects and size.
• Identify key groups, stakeholders and/or individuals that are associated with the property.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS AUGUST 31, 2023
All interested parties should send their proposal for the Project Sponsor consideration to the attention of:

Alan Colussy | Site Selection Committee Chair
Alan Colussy Architecture, LLC
Email

  Troy Peterson | 2023 Challenge Chair
Prime West
Email
 

Jayma File | Managing Director
NAIOP Colorado
Email

 

 


 

THE RIVER MILE in DENVER, COLORADO Selected for the 21st ANNUAL of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE CHALLENGE

January 2023

DENVER, COLO.Land Title Guarantee Company and NAIOP Colorado (the Commercial Real Estate Development Association), are thrilled to announce that the River Mile project, developed by Revesco Properties and sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and Impact Finance Center (IFC), will be the development site for the 21st Annual Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge to be held on April 27, 2023.

Located on the current home of Elitch Gardens amusement park, the 62-acre River Mile project is located along the South Platt River and adjacent to downtown Denver’s Central Business District. This year’s graduate student teams from the University of Colorado and University of Denver are tasked with determining which parcels within the project site are best situated to start development, while creating a sense of place that will attract users and subsequent residents and visitors for years to come. Additional focus for the students will include incorporating the use of Mass Timber in their proposal. The student teams will need to explore various creative development and financing options to achieve the project objectives.

‘The Challenge’ culminates with the largest real estate event in Colorado on April 27, 2023, where student finalists present their recommendations to the Project Sponsor Team and an audience of real estate professionals. The 2023 final competition will be held at the Hilton Denver City Center Hotel in downtown Denver, Colorado. More details regarding ticket sales for the event will be announced in February via NAIOP.



21st ANNUAL
NAIOP ROCKY MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE CHALLENGE
presented by LAND TITLE 
Thursday, April 27, 2023 | 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM MT
Hilton Denver City Center | 1701 California Street, Denver 


TICKET SALES ARE CLOSED FOR THE 2023 CHALLENGE! Watch this website for more information regarding the 2024 Challenge Event.

SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES:

Interested in participating as a Sponsor for the 2024 Challenge? As a sponsor, you will have a valuable presence to meet with event attendees, showcase products and services and promote your brand. For more details: Contact Jayma File at NAIOP by phone at (303) 782-0155 or Email 


 

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 CHALLENGE SPONSORS
MAJOR CHALLENGE SPONSOR:
 
PROJECT SPONSORS:
 
          
SUPPORTING SPONSOR:
 
   SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR:
     
        
 
 
 
 

About the Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge

The Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge (RMREC) is an annual event designed to serve as a learning tool for students of the University of Colorado and University of Denver’s graduate real estate programs and local business community to interface, while assisting the Project Sponsor with development options for the specific property.

A property is selected in the region that will serve as the competition site that is under control of the Project Sponsor. Each school forms multiple student teams who are enrolled in the real estate development classes in each real estate program.  Each team is charged with creating a vision for the property conducting  market research on uses for the property, working with a local architectural firm (secured to participate by NAIOP) to assist them in the project’s design, refinement of the vision the respect with respect to the zoning and entitlements carried by the property. The finalists from each school are judged by a group of seasoned real estate professionals the day of the event. A traveling trophy is awarded to the winning team.

  


 

Challenge History

Year

Project

Schools Competing

Winning School

Winning  Resources

2023

River Mile project, developed by Revesco Properties
Sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and Impact Finance Center (IFC)

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Denver
Cottonwood Development
Drew Considine
Adrian Frank
Clare Laughery
Andrew Mitro
Alex Riedy
 OZ Architects (AR)
Hensel Phelps (GC)
2022

Peak Innovation Park
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Urban Frontier, Flywheel Capital & Colorado Springs Airport

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Colorado
Sky View - Panoramic Park Derek Lange
Ryan Adzima
Cole Meleyco
Gabriella Haloute
Brickman House

Intergroup Architects
2021

Dowd Junction; 
Town of Minturn, Colorado

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Colorado
Marigold Partners - Meadow Station
Paula Chavarria
Erika Vette
Kyle Clinton
Joe Plastino
Simon Egerton
Jesus Banuelos Rivera

STUDIO Architecture
2020

Denver International Airport (DEN)
61st Ave. and Peña Blvd. Site

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Denver
Bow Development - Conflux at 61st & Peña
William Beuerlein
Keenan Black
David Copperman
Erin Everett
William Lam
Alex Welsh
OZ Architecture
2019 The Denver Shops;
Conscience Bay Company

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Denver
Helix Partners - CRUX
Jenny Aragon
Owin Orr
Nicholas Allen
Derek Porterfield
Cody Bell
Karina Rush
Humphries Poli
2018 3800 Xanthia Street; RK Site

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Denver
Odyssey Development Group - Strommen
Adam Graham
Casey Fanganello
Tim Flynn
Ari Steinberg
Demetra Kapuranis
Ross Hardin
Chase Seigel

OZ Architecture
2017  TERMINAL at 51st

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Colorado
BRAND Partners - Coalesce
Chris Antonov
Katie Bloudoff-Indelicato
Joseph Donadio
Daniel Nichols
Juan Nino
Connor Richardson
James Roy II
 EVStudio
 2016 Westminster Station
City of  Westminster

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Denver
Colorado Contemporary - The Mosaic
Kiki Boone
Jamie Iuliano
Scott McDonald
Greg Mikulecky
Martha O'Connell
Katie Wear
 KTGY Architecture & Planning
 2015 Midtown Industrial Center, 
Westfield Development Co. 
 

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Denver
Visionary Partners - The RiNo Link
Adelicia Colmenero
Rebecca Wiener
Erik Husted
Jerad Larkin
Matthew Verson
Tyler Duman
Adam Moore
Joe Larkin
 AndersonMasonDale
Architects
 2014 Town of Parker, 
Mainstreet Site
 

University of Colorado

University of Denver

University of Denver
Perry Bacalis
Beau Breck
Stephen Hawkins
Paul Moore
Brad Vander Vliet
Sean Wiseman
 AndersonMasonDale
Architects
 2013 Boulder Civic Area,
A City of Boulder Project

University of Colorado

University of Denver

 
University of Colorado
Andrew Browning
Jason Elliott
Cody Kirkpatrick
Dan Konecny
Nathan Stern
Andrea Woodhams
 AndersonMasonDale
Architects