In conversations about architecture and development, we often talk about materials, budgets, timelines, and square footage. But the most memorable spaces in the world are not defined by those elements alone. They are defined by how people feel when they enter them.
Hospitality, in its truest sense, is not limited to hotels or restaurants. It is a mindset. It is a philosophy that shapes how spaces are designed, how projects are developed, and how relationships are built along the way. When hospitality becomes the lens through which design decisions are made, the result is not just a building. It is an experience people remember.
In a recent conversation on The Art of Construction Podcast, I shared how this mindset has shaped my work as the founder of Root Architecture and Development and as the host of the Radical Hospitality Podcast. The journey from job sites in East Texas to developing boutique hospitality projects in Colorado has reinforced one idea over and over again: great spaces begin with people.
From Job Sites to Design Philosophy
My journey into architecture began long before I ever opened a design software. I grew up working alongside my dad on construction sites around lakes in East Texas. Those early experiences taught me something fundamental about the built environment: every structure has a story, and every project involves people working together to bring an idea to life.
At the time, I remember hearing contractors joke about architects sitting comfortably in offices while builders did the hard work on site. Ironically, that sparked my interest in architecture. I wanted to understand how the ideas on paper translated into real places people could live in, work in, and experience.
Later in my career, after working with several respected architecture firms, I eventually decided to start my own company. Like many entrepreneurs, the decision was fueled by a mix of ambition, curiosity, and a belief that things could be done differently.
What I quickly learned, however, is that being good at a craft does not automatically mean you know how to run a business.
Running a firm requires learning entirely new skills—business development, financial management, leadership, and communication. Those lessons shaped not just how I run a company, but how I approach every project today.
The Power of Hospitality in Design
The idea of hospitality as a guiding principle became clearer to me after reading the book Unreasonable Hospitality. The message was simple but powerful: when you serve people with excellence and genuine care, the impact goes far beyond the transaction.
That concept resonated deeply with what we were already trying to do at Root Architecture and Development.
When a client comes to us with a vision, our goal is not just to deliver what they ask for. Our goal is to bring them what they asked for—and then add something unexpected that elevates the experience.
Sometimes that means introducing creative ideas that transform a concept into something more memorable. Sometimes it means designing spaces that surprise and delight guests. And sometimes it simply means listening closely enough to understand what truly matters to the people who will use the space.
Hospitality, in this sense, becomes a design strategy.
It shapes how spaces flow. It influences how people interact with the environment. And it ultimately determines whether a place feels welcoming or forgettable.
Small Spaces Can Create Big Experiences
One of the projects that best illustrates this philosophy is a small treehouse stay we built in the mountains outside Denver.
During the uncertainty of COVID, we purchased a small property near our home in Indian Hills. At first, we considered building a large lodge on the site. But after running the numbers, the idea simply did not make financial sense.
Instead, we explored something smaller and more creative.
We designed a compact treehouse experience tucked into the forest, elevated among the trees with mountain views and surrounded by wildlife. The design preserved the natural environment while still offering guests a unique stay.
Today, guests who visit the treehouse experience something far beyond a typical short-term rental. They wake up to elk moving through the valley, wild turkeys wandering the forest floor, and expansive views of the surrounding mountains.
It is not a large project. But it creates a memorable experience.
And that is the essence of hospitality-driven design.
From Vision to Reality: The Morrison Boutique Hotel
While small projects can be powerful, hospitality design also plays a major role in larger developments.
One of the most exciting projects currently underway is a boutique hotel in Morrison, Colorado, just minutes from the world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
For years, Morrison had all the ingredients of a destination town: stunning natural surroundings, access to hiking and biking trails, and a concert venue that attracts visitors from all over the world.
What it lacked was a place for those visitors to stay.
The development process for the hotel took patience. What initially seemed like a six-to-eight month entitlement process ultimately stretched into nearly two years. Navigating zoning approvals, city planning processes, and development logistics required persistence and a long-term vision.
But today, construction is underway.
The boutique hotel will feature 22 thoughtfully designed rooms, a café and bar space, community gathering areas, and a rooftop deck overlooking the town. It will also serve as a hub where guests, locals, and entrepreneurs can connect.
In many ways, it represents the intersection of design, development, and hospitality.
It is not just about building a hotel. It is about creating a place where people gather, explore the surrounding landscape, and form lasting memories.
Relationships Still Matter More Than Technology
We live in an era of digital networking, automated communication, and artificial intelligence. These tools can be powerful, and in many cases they help us work faster and more efficiently.
But they do not replace relationships.
Every meaningful opportunity in my career—from partnerships to development projects—has come through real conversations with real people.
Many of those conversations happened over something as simple as a cup of coffee.
Technology can help us connect, but relationships are still built through trust, time, and shared experiences.
For entrepreneurs, architects, builders, and developers, that lesson remains incredibly important. The most impactful opportunities often come not from digital connections, but from genuine human interactions.
Designing With the End Experience in Mind
At the heart of every successful project is a simple question:
What experience will this space create?
Whether designing a treehouse, a coffee shop, or a boutique hotel, the goal remains the same. The space should feel intentional. It should support the people who use it. And it should create moments that stay with visitors long after they leave.
That approach requires thinking beyond the physical structure.
It means considering how guests arrive, how they move through the space, where they gather, and what emotions the environment evokes.
In other words, hospitality becomes the foundation of design.
The Future of Hospitality Design
Looking ahead, technology will continue to transform how architecture and development operate. Artificial intelligence, digital modeling, and immersive visualization tools will allow designers to explore ideas faster and more creatively than ever before.
But even as these tools evolve, the fundamental principle remains unchanged.
Buildings are not just structures.
They are places where people gather, celebrate, work, and connect.
When hospitality becomes the mindset behind design and development, those places become more than buildings. They become destinations.
And the most meaningful destinations are the ones people remember—and want to return to.
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