Case Study: Sage Ridge Supportive Residential Community

Building a Stronger, Healthier Colorado

Introduction

The new Sage Ridge Supportive Residential Community, formerly known as the Ridge View Youth Services Center, is a transformational campus in the State of Colorado’s mission to support those experiencing homelessness. Ridge View Youth Services Center originally served as a boarding school for young boys who had been in trouble with the law. It featured bunk houses, a central cafeteria, library, recreation rooms, academic buildings, and administrative spaces.

In 2021, the 560-acre campus was transferred from the Colorado Department of Human Services to the Department of Personnel Administration for use by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Housing. The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless was selected by the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) as the operating on-site partner for transitional housing, and AllHealth Network was selected as the operating on-site partner for substance use recovery.

Project Features

At its opening, the Sage Ridge Supportive Residential community will serve as a housing community for people experiencing homelessness and seeking additional recovery support. Haselden transformed the existing school campus, made up of 11 structures, into a thoughtful recovery-centered community using trauma-informed design.

Within the community, residents will have access to integrated healthcare, vocational training, case management, withdrawal management services, and peer-supported staffing that fosters autonomy and self-care. Residents will have the opportunity to voluntarily stay up to two years as they seek to get back on their feet. At its full capacity, the Sage Ridge Supportive Residential Community will support 198 participants, with 27 detox beds on campus.

Challenges Overcome

When the project was awarded in spring 2024, the campus had already been vacant for three years and had fallen into significant disrepair. With construction scheduled to begin that fall, Haselden quickly mobilized to assess the property as soon as they received the award. The prolonged vacancy presented unforeseen challenges from the outset, shaping the team’s early approach to the project.

In order to use the project funds to their maximum potential, much of the existing structures were intended to be salvaged and updated rather than completely gutted. However, many systems that were expected to be in functioning condition, such as catwalks for the RTUS, structural elements, and hood fire suppression systems, required significant repair to be salvaged. The Haselden team had to quickly pivot, adding additional scope to ensure those features would be in working condition. Even with these unexpected changes, the Haselden team was still able to complete the first building as expected in April 2025.

Excellence in Project Management

The design-build team of Haselden and Davis Partner Architects was in uncharted territory from day one of the Sage Ridge project. Although it is not the first project of its kind in the state, it is the first supportive housing community with a construction element. For prior projects, the State entities utilized existing buildings as-is, without making any modifications. Though Sage Ridge prioritized maintaining existing structures, construction allowed the owner to customize those structures to the specific needs of the final center.

Despite not having an official operator and administrative team for the community on board for a majority of the project, Haselden and Davis Partnership Architects were able to bring thoughtful modifications to the table that reflect the owner’s desire to provide dignity to its eventual residents and embrace trauma-informed design in moving away from the “school” environment.

State of the Art Advancement

Transforming a boarding school into a recovery-focused community while maximizing existing structures is no small feat. Due to the sensitive nature of the campus’s final use, the design-build team utilized a trauma-informed approach to design and construction.

The existing campus retained a distinct educational feel as well as layouts designed for maximum surveillance and little privacy, which would not be conducive to assisting those in recovery. Dormitories were doorless and featured a large glass room in the center, designed to allow administrators to monitor students at all times. Each dorm building looked exactly alike and featured no distinguishing qualities, adding to the “institutional” feel. Construction focused on transforming these spaces into welcoming and comfortable residences for future residents to recover.

The observation rooms in the center were removed, doors added, and each dorm received its own name and color family to provide distinct communities for future residents. The main cafeteria was transformed into the “Town Hall” as the center of the campus and a hub for services and dining. It was updated to have a more refined feel to distinguish it from a school cafeteria. While the new design focused on providing a warm and inviting space for recovery, the nature of the building’s services still required clear lines of sight and elevated safety considerations. The design-build team blended comfort and state-of-the-art safety considerations, resulting in a final space that strikes a balance between form and function.

Safety and Environmental Stewardship

Safety was paramount for the Sage Ridge project. Because patients in recovery face unique behavioral health challenges, the facility was designed to meet the most current standards in behavioral health construction. Every element, from ligature-resistant fixtures to barricade-resistant doors, was carefully selected and tested to eliminate risks. Haselden’s team reviewed products down to the screws, confirming proper ratings and functionality through multiple inspections before final approval.

On-site worker safety was equally important. Weekly safety meetings, specialized training on behavioral health systems, and site-specific orientations ensured every team member understood the risks and requirements of ligature-resistant construction. Even unexpected challenges, like handling snakes discovered on the property, were addressed with safe removal practices that protected both workers and wildlife.

When the project expanded to include additional residential buildings, Haselden adapted the safety plan for an occupied site. Materials were staged inside buildings, and sitework was completed in advance, allowing residents to transition into a safe, disruption-free environment.

Sustainability was also a priority. By repurposing much of the existing building rather than pursuing new construction, the team reduced waste and minimized carbon emissions, advancing both environmental stewardship and community well-being.

Community Impact

Colorado has continued to face a heightened dilemma in recent years of how to address the population experiencing homelessness as the pandemic and economic factors added to the existing strain. Some of these individuals also require a next level of care to help them recover from addiction and other substance abuse disorders.

The new Sage Ridge Supportive Residential Community will help to address these issues in a way that prioritizes human dignity and maximizes the resources and funds dedicated to this issue. The comprehensive suite of services will ensure they are connected to the entities that are designed to support recovery and rehabilitation including vocational training spaces and an integrated community health clinic which will provide dental and routine healthcare services. The health and dental center will also be open to the public further expanding services in the rural area surrounding the campus.

Conclusion

Deputy Director of the Division of Housing Kristen Toombs stated the following regarding the project, “Working with Haselden Construction on the Sage Ridge Campus repurposing has been an exceptional experience. This project is unprecedented for the state. While other transitional housing centers have simply moved into existing buildings, this is the first to incorporate a significant construction element, repurposing and modifying an existing campus. Haselden’s leadership set the tone for its success from day one, acting as true partners, they listened to our needs and collaborated at every stage. The care and attention they brought to work reflects a deep understanding of how critical this facility will be in serving Colorado communities. I am grateful for their commitment, expertise, and dedication in bringing this important vision to life.”