Design-Build at 14,000 Feet: How a “Small” Federal Project Redefined Possibility on Pikes Peak

Design-Build Delivers

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What does it take to deliver a mission-critical federal facility atop one of the most extreme environments in the U.S.? In this episode, we head to Colorado’s Pikes Peak to explore the award-winning High Altitude Research Lab, a 4,000-square-foot facility rebuilt under intense weather, logistical and design constraints. Joe Opyd shares how his team used design-build to meet the moment and what this “small” project reveals about trust, flexibility and collaboration.

Guest:
Joe Opyd, CCM, DBIA, Sr. Project Manager / Project Controls Manager, DPR Construction
Member, DBIA Federal Committee

Topics Covered:

• Using design-build for small but complex federal projects
• Delivering in extreme environments (wind, lightning, altitude)
• Stakeholder collaboration and city-federal partnerships
• Long funding timelines and design constraints
• Safety planning and logistics at 14,000 feet
• How DBIA principles supported project success

Related Links:

• High Altitude Research Laboratory Project Summary and photos.
• Register for DBIA’s Federal Sector Design-Build Industry Days. Public and private Owners attend free, and UBEs receive discounted registration.
• Explore the DBIA Projects Database to learn more about HARL and other successful design-build projects.
• Ahead of the 2025 Project/Team Award announcement (coming soon), get to know past DBIA Project/Team Award Winners.

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.
DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time.

Capitole

1. Intro: A “Small” Project at 14,000 Feet (00:00:00)

2. Why Design-Build Was the Right Fit (00:01:50)

3. A 13-Year Journey to Yes (00:03:30)

4. Designing for the Peak (00:06:50)

5. Small Footprint, Big Demands (00:09:20)

6. Hidden in Plain Sight (00:12:30)

7. Wind, Lightning and Weather Extremes (00:14:30)

8. Altitude Sickness and Fitness Testing (00:17:45)

9. Lessons from the Lab (00:20:00)

10. Why Small Doesn’t Mean Easy (00:24:00)

11. Partnering with Government Clients (00:26:45)

12. The Lab is Operational – and World-Class (00:28:00)

13. Advice for Future Small Project Teams (00:29:15)

14. Looking Ahead: Innovation in Small Design-Build Projects (00:31:00)

15. Outro: What We Learned on the Mountain (00:33:25)