Celebrating 10 Years With Sustainable Design Build

Over the past decade, Sustainable Design Build has grown alongside Denver itself. From investor-backed multifamily townhomes and commercial developments to custom homes, additions, and whole-home renovations, the company has continually adapted to meet the needs of a changing city and the people who call it home. While the projects have changed, the values have not. Since day one, Sustainable Design Build has been guided by a commitment to integrity, transparency, craftsmanship, and a responsible stewardship of the communities where it builds. Every project has been approved with the belief that great construction is about more than building homes. It is about creating lasting homes for residents, neighborhoods, and the future.

As Sustainable Design Build celebrates its tenth anniversary, this retrospective is more than a look back at completed projects. It is the story thus far. Our achievements. Our Journey. We invite you to join us as we view Sustainable Design Build and everything that has brought us to this moment.

Every company has a starting point. For Sustainable Design Build, it began with two professionals who saw the opportunity to combine their skillsets to build something better.

In 2016, Founders Zach McKendry and Michael McCarty each brought their own years of experience from the construction industry, but from two different disciplines. Michael developed a deep understanding of the housing market through real estate which brought exposure to investing, mortgage lending, and contract negotiations. While Zach represented a fourth-generation Colorado general contractor with decades of family experience building and operating construction companies. 

Individually, each possessed expertise that was valuable. Together, they realized those strengths complimented each other perfectly. Michael understood how to navigate buying, financing, and investing in property. Zach understood how to invest in optimal properties and how to bring those visions to life through quality craftsmanship and disciplined construction management. The partnership became more than the sum of its parts. By combining a business -minded real estate professional with a seasoned construction leader, Sustainable Design Build was created.

Looking back, the partnership almost felt inevitable. Two founders, two complementary skill sets, and two lost names beginning with “M” came together to build a company that fits the quintessential parts of a construction operation to a T.

Xavier St Townhome Project

Xavier St

The maiden voyage of Sustainable Design Build, Zach and Michael began construction on a four-unit townhome off Xavier Street. Located in the Villa Park neighborhood, these homes brought an update to the neighborhood great for supplementing the sudden inflow of residents to the Denver Metro area.

Additionally, Sustainable Design Build embarked on another townhome project just down the street from the first. Another which was impressively modern in design. The completion of this project set the tone for the company at the time, showcasing that each project increased in size, scope, and achievement.

The Row @ Perry Station South

The Row @ Perry Station South

The Row @ Perry Station South showcases Sustainable Design Build’s commitment to delivering modern, thoughtfully designed urban living in Denver’s Villa Park neighborhood. This eight-unit townhome community was carefully crafted to maximize space, functionality, and contemporary style while placing homeowners just minutes from Sloan’s Lake, the Perry Light Rail Station, and downtown Denver.

Each three-story residence features an open-concept floor plan filled with natural light, soaring ceilings, and premium finishes, including hardwood flooring, custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, under-cabinet lighting, and gas ranges. Designed for today’s lifestyles, every home includes a private one-car garage equipped with a 240-volt outlet for electric vehicle charging, offering convenience for future-focused homeowners.

The second level creates an inviting living and entertaining space, seamlessly connecting the living room, dining area, and kitchen into one cohesive environment. Upstairs, the primary suite offers a spacious retreat with a double-vanity bathroom, subway tile shower, and generous closet space, while a secondary bedroom and full bathroom provide comfort for family members or guests.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of The Row is its expansive rooftop patio. Designed as a true extension of the home, each rooftop terrace provides ample room for outdoor entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding Denver skyline and Rocky Mountains.

The Row @ Perry Station South remains an example of Sustainable Design Build’s ability to create high-quality infill housing that blends contemporary architecture, lasting craftsmanship, and desirable urban locations into a community homeowners are proud to call home.

The Row @ Perry Station North

Almost tandemly, Sustainable Design Build expanded the vision with The Row @ Perry Station North, a sister development that carried forward the same modern architectural language, thoughtful floor plans, and commitment to quality craftsmanship. Completed on a similar timeline, the North development reinforced the company’s ability to successfully deliver multiple urban infill projects while maintaining the high standards homeowners had come to expect.

Temptations, Trials and Zoning Code Changes

Every journey comes with its share of challenges, and Sustainable Design Build was no exception. As Zach often says, “Everyone has one to cut their teeth on.” For Sustainable Design Build, that project was The Row @ Perry Station. The resources needed to address this challenge nearly ended SDB’s journey.

The development became the company’s proving ground, providing invaluable experience in managing complex design-build projects and coordinating architects, engineers, and construction teams. During construction, a structural engineering oversight that went undetected through both the engineering review and permitting process threatened the project’s completion at the finish line when construction was nearly finished. Rather than shifting blame, Zach and Mike took ownership. At significant personal and professional cost, they worked tirelessly to correct the issue, ensure every home met city requirements, and deliver on their commitment to each homeowner.

That experience reinforced a principle that continues to define Sustainable Design Build today: integrity, transparency, and a commitment to doing the right thing, even when it is the hardest path forward.

Zenobia Projects under construction

Zenobia and Yates

Despite the setback from Perry Street, Sustainable Design Build continued on with two additional projects in the neighborhood that were well underway. Yates Street Project which was the company’s first duplex design. As well as Zenobia, a 4-unit townhome with a unique courtyard design.

The Pandemic Shift

By this point, Sustainable Design Build had successfully completed multiple multifamily developments and was building strong momentum for future projects. Then, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything.

Like countless businesses across the world, construction projects slowed, uncertainty took hold, and new opportunities all but disappeared. As the industry paused and homeowners and investors waited for clarity, Sustainable Design Build faced a defining moment. The company could either close its doors or evolve.

Zach and Mike had already demonstrated their commitment to doing right by their clients. Now, they applied that same determination to protecting the company and its employees. Rather than waiting for the market to recover, they made a strategic shift. Mike, Zach, and the team never stopped working. And that resolve paid off slowly but surely becoming what the company is today.

Sustainable Design Build pivoted away from investor-led multifamily developments and redirected its expertise toward custom homes, home additions, whole-home remodels, and high-end residential renovations. What began as a response to unprecedented circumstances ultimately reshaped the company’s future, laying the foundation for the design-build firm it is known for today.

6 Years of Growth in Residential Home Construction

Transitioning into residential home construction presented a new challenge. Unlike multifamily development, where projects were often driven by private investors and established business relationships, custom homes and renovations required Sustainable Design Build to earn the trust of individual homeowners. Every project began with a conversation, a vision, and the opportunity to prove that SDB was the right partner to bring it to life.

Fortunately, years of experience had already prepared the team for that moment. Zach, Mike, and the growing SDB team refined a design-build process that streamlined every stage of construction, from concept and architectural design to permitting, interior selections, and final completion. By bringing these services together under one roof, homeowners benefited from a single point of contact, greater transparency, faster decision-making, and exceptional craftsmanship throughout the entire journey.

What started as a strategic pivot soon became Sustainable Design Build’s identity. Today, the company is known for creating custom homes, additions, and whole-home remodels that are thoughtfully designed, expertly built, and tailored to the unique needs of every homeowner.

Home Remodeling project under construction by SDB

The Next Chapter

Ten years is more than a milestone. It is a testament to perseverance, growth, and the people who believed in Sustainable Design Build along the way.

From four-unit townhomes in Villa Park to award-worthy custom homes, transformative additions, and whole-home renovations across the Denver metro area, every project has contributed to the company Sustainable Design Build is today. Every success, every challenge, and every lesson learned has reinforced the values that have guided the company since day one: integrity, transparency, craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to doing right by every client.

While the projects have changed over the years, the mission has remained remarkably consistent. Sustainable Design Build exists to create homes that improve the lives of the families who live in them while strengthening the neighborhoods they become a part of. Every design decision, every conversation, and every detail is driven by that purpose.

As Sustainable Design Build celebrates its tenth anniversary, the team does so with immense gratitude. To the homeowners who entrusted us with their homes, the architects, engineers, trade partners, employees, and community members who have been part of this journey, thank you. Your confidence, collaboration, and support have made the last decade possible.

The first ten years built the foundation. The next ten will build on it.

Here’s to the next chapter of creating exceptional homes, serving Colorado families, and continuing to build with purpose for generations to come.