Article Summary
Melton’s design team volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to support the construction of affordable housing in the Boulder community. Working inside a modular build facility, the team assisted with hands-on tasks including drywall installation, insulation, and floor sheathing. The experience reinforced the connection between design and construction while highlighting the role community partnerships play in creating safe, stable housing for people across Boulder County.
Table of Contents
Melton Designers Give Back
This year the design side of Melton decided to give back to the community by volunteering for a Habitat for Humanity build day. What better way to give back than to donate a full day to help provide housing to families in our community who need it most? And what better way for a group of designers to tap into the Build side of Melton Design Build?
The Project
We started our day at the new Boulder-MOD warehouse located right off Arapahoe Ave in East Boulder. Each story houses a combination of two and three-bedroom duplexes on their own trailers, nearly ready to be delivered to their future site. Gone are the days of a single jobsite susceptible to the delays of weather and lack of onsite material storage – welcome to the MODular era! Here, we picked up where other volunteers left off and broke out into small groups doing tasks like hanging drywall, packing insulation, and laying down floor sheathing. Under the watchful eye of our gracious Habitat for Humanity hosts, we all walked away with a strong appreciation for what it takes to actually build a house. It’s one thing to put together a set of drawings and discuss complicated details with your own project team, but it’s another to get your hands dirty and perform the work that’s required.
There are still a few more steps that need to be completed before the duplexes are ready to go, but after the last group of volunteers and builders finish up what they need to, these homes will make the short trip up to the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park in North Boulder, where their new inhabitants await.
Thanks to Flatirons Habitat for Humanity for having us!
How to Get Involved
If you’re interested in volunteering, you can check out the available time slots here:
https://volunteer.bloomerang.co/volunteer/#/join-party?k=eb7mkj8i1fjb7w
For more information on the Ponderosa project, check out:
https://www.flatironshabitat.org/ponderosa
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Habitat for Humanity?
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps build and preserve affordable housing by partnering with volunteers, donors, and future homeowners. Its work focuses on creating safe, stable homes while strengthening local communities.
How does Melton support housing equity in Boulder County?
Melton supports housing equity through long-standing community involvement, volunteer partnerships, and hands-on support for organizations working to improve access to safe housing. These efforts reflect our people-first approach and our values as a certified B Corp.
What is a modular home?
A modular home is built in sections within a controlled facility and then transported to its final site for installation. This construction approach can improve efficiency, reduce weather-related delays, and support consistent quality while maintaining affordability.
What is BoulderMOD?
BoulderMOD is a modular housing factory in Boulder, Colorado, created through a partnership between the City of Boulder, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, and the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD). The facility constructs permanently affordable modular homes in a controlled assembly environment, with homes delivered to sites like the Ponderosa community. The project also serves as a workforce training site where students gain hands-on construction experience and volunteers help build homes that remain affordable for a range of income levels.
How can I get involved with Habitat for Humanity?
Individuals and groups can volunteer with local Habitat for Humanity chapters by signing up for build days and other opportunities. Most volunteer roles are open to people with a wide range of experience levels.
What other charity or community work does Melton participate in?
Community involvement has been a core part of Melton’s work for more than 30 years. Through volunteer partnerships, local giving, and hands-on support for housing and shared community spaces, Melton has long focused on creating positive impact beyond individual projects. In 2024, these ongoing efforts were brought together under Melton Cares, an annual program that formalized our commitment to supporting people, homes, and community spaces across Boulder County.