Windler’s Sustainability Featured by NPR

NPR recently highlighted Windler in a feature article about sustainable deconstruction. Instead of traditional demolition, Windler embraces the careful dismantling of old structures so that valuable materials like wood, steel, and brick can be salvaged and reused in future construction, keeping them out of landfills and reducing waste.

Chris Fellows, community development partner at GVP Windler, LLC, and Anna Perks, co-owner of Perks Deconstruction, a woman-owned business specializing in the salvage and reconstruction of older buildings, were interviewed.

Fellows and his team are committed to building a more thoughtful and sustainable future as they bring to life Windler – the newest master-planned residential community in Aurora, Colorado. 

While preparing the site for 1881 Park – named for the year the Windler family settled on the homestead – crews salvaged materials from the property’s original farm structures, including barn wood, fencing, and old farm equipment. Although the brick farmhouse had been largely destroyed by fire, sections of its walls remained intact and were carefully preserved, along with additional bricks recovered from the site. Many of these reclaimed materials will be thoughtfully incorporated into Anna’s Place and The Coop, social hangouts in 1881 Park, honoring the land’s rich agricultural heritage.

In the article, Chris reflects on the land’s history: “This was a place where there’s cool history and culture in the pioneers and the settlers that came out and did dryland farming.” Emphasizing the importance of environmental responsibility, he continues, “We wanted to be good stewards of the land in terms of the climate and the environment. So, to the extent that we could reuse and recycle any materials, we wanted to do that, so we don’t have to consume as much new material, nor do we have to take as much stuff to a landfill.”

Windler is a community designed with the future in mind, prioritizing thoughtful development and long-term sustainability while creating spaces for connection, exploration, and inspired living.

Read the full article to learn more.