Chris Achenbach
Principal, Licensed Architect and General Contractor
Chris Achenbach is the founder of Urban Roots Development, Inc., a firm dedicated to creating innovative, sustainable, and financially successful mixed-use projects. As a licensed Architect and Class A General Contractor, Chris brings deep technical expertise and a proven track record of delivering some of the Denver region’s most acclaimed environmentally conscious developments.
Prior to launching Urban Roots, Chris co-founded Zocalo Community Development, Inc., where he served as Principal for 12 years. During that time, he led the design, development, and construction of landmark mixed-use and residential projects that helped shape Denver’s evolving urban landscape. These efforts not only redefined sustainability in large-scale institutional development but also achieved record-breaking financial performance
Chris’s portfolio includes Tempo Nine Mile, a 255 unit NGBS Silver 5-story wrap at Nine Mile Station in Aurora; Vita Littleton, 160 LEED Gold apartments for residents 55 and older, Solera, downtown Denver’s first LEED Gold high-rise apartments; 2020 Lawrence, 231 units and LEED Gold in the ballpark neighborhood; Cadence, a pioneering 13 story LEED Gold apartment building in the heart of Denver Union Station; Coda Cherry Creek, 12 stories and 182 units of LEED Gold high-style living in Denver’s finest urban neighborhood, and The Grove Stapleton, 151 LEED Gold apartments for residents 55 and older.
Professional Recognition
Awards and Commendations
Awards and commendations received include: Apartment Association of Metro Denver – Grand Tribute Award; Downtown Denver Partnership -Project of the Year Award (Cadence); Lodo Limelight – New Business of the Year Award (Cadence); Denver Business Journal Powerbook Award – Residential Developer of the Year; Apartment Association of Denver – Tribute Award for use of Technology at Solera; University of Denver Burns School of Real Estate – Project of the Year Award for Solera Apartments; Environmental Defense Fund – Top Real Estate Innovation for Riverclay Solar Mortgage Program; University of Denver Burns School of Real Estate – Project of the year Award for Riverclay Condominiums; Denver Micro Business Development Corp – Business Leader of the Year; University of Colorado Research Competition 1st place for the design of An Affordable Alternative Materials House; and the Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute Steve Dach Memorial Award Honorable Mention for the Design of An Affordable Masonry home.
Professional Roots
Education and Volunteer Work
Chris Achenbach holds a degree in Psychology from the University of Vermont and a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado. A longtime leader within the Colorado Urban Land Institute (ULI), he has served as Chair, Vice Chair, and Executive Committee member, and co-founded the ULI Sustainable Communities Committee. His dedication to sustainable development also includes service on the Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver Sustainable Building Task Force and the Denver Mayor’s Development Advisory Committee.
Committed to advancing green-building knowledge and inclusive leadership, Chris volunteers as an instructor for the ULI Real Estate Diversity Initiative (REDI Program) and mentors emerging professionals through the ULI Partnership Forum. He is a frequent speaker at industry events, including the ULI Speaker Series, the Colorado Urban Green Conference, the Multi-Family World Conference, and the National Association of Homebuilders. He has also served as a guest instructor at regional universities.
In the community, Chris volunteers with Project Worthmore, mentoring and supporting recently resettled ESL immigrants in Colorado. Originally from Vermont’s Green Mountains, he now lives in Denver with his family. Outside of work, he enjoys mountain biking, sailing, exploring new places, and savoring a well-crafted cup of coffee
