For clients who already possess a completed set of architectural plans, Forge & Bow offers premium construction services focused on master-level execution. Established in 2016, our firm is built on a foundation of quality and timelessness. We partner with outside architects and homeowners to translate technical drawings into a physical reality marked by intentionality and precision. Our team brings a builder’s eye to every detail, ensuring that the integrity of the design is matched by the caliber of the craftsmanship. By focusing on the convergence of thoughtful design and quality construction, we ensure your home is a masterfully built reflection of individuality that endures.
Our Build Only service is designed for the homeowner who has already navigated the design phase and is now seeking a construction partner capable of delivering high-fidelity results. We treat every blueprint as a roadmap for excellence — applying the same rigorous standards of project management and craftsmanship that define our integrated design-build approach, ensuring no detail is lost in the transition from paper to site.
High-end residential construction requires more than skilled labor — it requires a deep understanding of architectural intent. Our builders are trained to focus on the “why” behind every drawing, ensuring the finished product performs as beautifully as it looks, regardless of where the design originated. Even when the vision begins elsewhere, the building process at Forge & Bow remains a seamless and sophisticated experience.
We act as a trusted advisor and a bridge between your design team and the physical build. Our process is rooted in clear communication and professional accountability.
PHASE 01
An owners criteria is a focused evaluation phase where we analyze your goals, needs, and priorities, along with feasibility factors, to understand what’s possible within your existing space, budget, and constraints. This process clarifies the problem, identifies limitations, and explores viable solutions. It includes meeting to define your needs, reviewing existing conditions, researching relevant building codes, and developing an early vision and corresponding budget to guide the project forward.
PHASE 02
Once we substantiate your property information and project feasibility, our creative process begins. Our designers develop initial space planning and massing, and progress them to almost-complete floor plans and elevations. Additionally, concepts for your home’s motif are explored during this phase. Our team of designers work with you to capture the vision you have for your home, while also exploring systems and the home’s utility. We complete this phase be creating our Schematic Estimate, ensuring that we stay on track financially.
PHASE 03
During this phase, our Design Team presents curated interior concepts and room themes that establish the overall look and feel of your home. Simultaneously, our Architectural Designers finalize the floor plans and elevations (if necessary)—refining layouts, confirming architectural details, and coordinating with any necessary third-party consultants, such as engineers, to ensure every element is thoughtfully planned and build-ready. Depending on the project, we may also be able to submit for building permits; However, this step requires the payment of your non-refundable construction deposit. Once we have a final understanding of your vision, as well as the requirements from third parties (like engineering), we finalize the creative design by making all interior selections and ensuring that all design elements are coordinated together. We conclude this phase by creating an updated Developed Estimate.
PHASE 04
During the bidding and estimating phase, we finalize your project scope outline, clearly defining the work to be performed. We then engage our trusted third-party trade partners in a competitive bidding process to ensure all pricing is accurate and fair. At the same time, we complete detailed material takeoffs based on the architectural and interior plans, with the goal of aligning them with the previously established allowances. Once all information is compiled, we present our comprehensive Builder Proposal at your Summit Meeting, outlining the total project cost. If needed, we conduct a Value Engineering review to ensure the project scope and selections align with your desired investment and overall value. After the final scope is approved, we execute a contract amendment incorporating the completed design and finalized budget.
PHASE 05
With all parties agreeing to the scope and budget, the plan set will be edited in order to accurately represent the scope, culminating in a complete set of Construction Documents.. If building permits haven’t been applied for yet, they will now (non-refundable construction deposit required). From there, the plans are handed off to our build team so they can familiarize themselves with the project and begin preparing the site.
PHASE 06
Time to build! During construction, our Project Managers provide full support, overseeing budget, schedule, and quality. Our Designers handle Construction Administration to ensure every detail we envisioned together comes to life. Once complete, we hand over your finished project-ready for years of enjoyment and memories.
Forge & Bow is headquartered in Fort Collins at 120 W. Olive Street and serves homeowners throughout Northern Colorado and the greater Front Range. Our custom new build projects span Fort Collins, Loveland, Boulder, Windsor, Timnath, Longmont, Greeley, Erie, Broomfield, Westminster, Arvada, Brighton, and surrounding communities. If you’re in Northern Colorado or north Denver and looking for an architect-led team who manages design and construction as one integrated service, we’d welcome the conversation.
From the earliest stages, we encourage you to involve our team so we can set your project up for success. Together, we will consult with you and your design team, review surveys and project plans, and establish a realistic target budget. Conduct regular budget check-ins throughout the process to ensure financial goals remain on track. Collaborate with trade professionals and artisans to secure accurate bidding and Manage jurisdictional coordination, including submitting permits with municipalities. For a more detailed breakdown, see below:
Additionally, our team can serve as your dedicated interior design partner, ensuring your new build is cohesive from the architectural vision to the final lived-in details.
Custom pricing is available to suit your unique goals, with both fixed and hybrid options.
A change order is a formal written amendment to a contract, most often used in construction, that adjusts the original scope of work, timeline, or cost. It clearly documents the modification and requires approval from all parties involved, ensuring alignment and agreement before any changes are carried out.
Because every custom project is unique, we’d love to talk through the details with you. Give us a call to set up a consultation.
Yes! If you’d like to include interior design services, we’ll provide a separate proposal outlining the design process. We encourage you to let us know as early as possible so collaboration can begin right from the start.
Yes. Our Production Manager, Cody Pinkham, holds the highest level of Passive House certification. This advanced credential demonstrates his expertise in energy-efficient building practices, sustainable design, and high-performance construction methods. With Cody’s knowledge, we are able to integrate Passive House principles into your project, delivering superior energy efficiency, improved indoor air quality, and long-term cost savings, without compromising on comfort or design.
You will be introduced to a dedicated project manager who will serve as your main point of contact once construction begins. To ensure every project receives the attention it deserves, our project managers are intentionally assigned a limited number of jobs at a time, typically two, and at most three during peak periods. This approach allows them to stay fully engaged with your project while maintaining clear communication and oversight. In addition, our office support staff provides another layer of organization and care, ensuring your project is managed with efficiency and attention to detail.
We’d like to schedule an in-office consultation to review your vision and design plans, meet with you, and gain a clear understanding of your goals. From there, we’ll visit the site and brief our team so we can begin budgeting and estimating. We’ll collaborate closely with you throughout this stage and assist with the permitting process, including submissions to the appropriate municipalities.
Before we can provide a full estimate, the plan set needs to be ready for submission. You can verify this with your architect. Once the architectural and engineered plans, often called the “bid set”, are prepared, we can handle permit applications and submissions on your behalf.
We’d also like to understand where you are in the process: Have materials been fully specified? Once we have this information, we can provide a more accurate project estimate. Typically, the estimating process takes around 8 weeks.
Yes. We work with licensed general contractors and are experienced with multiple municipalities along the Front Range. Depending on your project’s scope, additional permit applications may be required beyond the standard building permit. Our preconstruction team will collaborate closely with your architectural team to ensure all necessary documentation and collateral are prepared for a smooth submittal process.
During the design process, we will learn details about the project, your lifestyle, and your goals for the project. That means we will work together to come up with an initial budget only AFTER we have a conceptual design. Your involvement will be essential, as your ideas and feedback will guide us. Once the architectural and interior design is complete, we will then determine a final budget. It is important to note that we cannot determine the project’s cost until we fully comprehend the details of your design.
Our work adheres to the NAHB Residential Construction Guidelines, ensuring that every project meets recognized industry standards for quality and durability. For renovated homes or additions, our warranty applies only to defects directly resulting from the work we perform. It does not cover pre-existing conditions, influenced from prior work, or elements outside the defined scope of our contract. This approach ensures that you have clear expectations while providing protection for the aspects of your home that we are responsible for.
Warranty Coverage: 1 year: Coverage for work outside of walls, including finishes and exterior elements. 2 years: Coverage for work inside walls, such as plumbing, electrical, and interior systems. 8 years: Coverage for structural components, including the foundation, framing, and load-bearing elements.
