In the ever-evolving landscape of the modern workplace, the concept of community has taken on new dimensions. Over the past three years, we’ve adapted, and thanks to technology, we’ve become more flexible in how we work. Our team has never been stronger due to that technology, allowing our colleagues to further the reach of the KEPHART community and live better, more flexible lives. But we still miss the intrinsic value of being together.
This year, we wanted to celebrate everything that makes us, us with our first KEPHART Week. It is a testament to celebrating our culture and core values and nurturing the bonds within our geographically diverse teams. Here is what we did as a team to strengthen our commitment to creating a well-designed place to live, work, and play.
Monday
Community is at the core of what we do here at KEPHART. Building a sustainable and healthy community starts with investing in the ones we call home. On Monday, KEPHART employees dispersed throughout Denver to give a helping hand or two. We handed out over 700 meals at the Denver Rescue Mission. We helped Cora and Robert, two older adults who needed an assist with their yard work, through A Little Help. Our team sorted donations and put a fresh coat of paint up at Volunteers of America. And you might’ve seen a KEPHART Week shirt or two around Denver as we helped clean up the RiNo neighborhood.
Tuesday
After helping the community we call home, we focused on our community and strengthening the relationships here at KEPHART. What is a better way to do that than watching the Rockies make history? It wasn’t great history, as the Rockies lost their 100th game, but it was an experience filled with laughs, catching up, and even a wave or two.
Wednesday
We enjoyed KEPHART’s newest award-winning space at a happy hour at Tom’s Starlight. KEPHART was fundamental in transforming this iconic Denver diner after it was slated for demolition. Josh Robinson brought out the blueprints, taking us through the evolution of this iconic piece of Googie-style architecture.
Thursday
It’s a tradition we haven’t been able to enjoy since 2019 – R&D Day! Thursday, we closed the office as we split up into ten groups to explore a variety of different topics: the use of AI in architecture, converting offices into residential units, the electrification of buildings, and how to build multi-family developments more sustainably. Stay tuned for more on what our teams found and how we may implement it here at KEPHART.
Friday
We finished the week with a scavenger hunt around RiNo! Members of our CA team took us around to find the “do’s and don’ts” of building construction, like this steel beam, which makes for a great pull-up bar from the sidewalk. We learned a lot from our CA team by taking a closer look at the buildings we pass by daily on our way to work.
For many of us, coming into the office is a daily occurrence. But for those who cannot, it was a chance to feed our desire to work as part of a vibrant and supportive community. In these shared spaces, ideas flourish, collaboration thrives, and relationships deepen. There is something uniquely powerful about coming together in person; without this inaugural event, we couldn’t make these amazing memories together. KEPHART Week is a celebration of unity, reminding us that our bonds as a firm are stronger than ever, no matter where we are on the map.
