Lofts & Highrises.
Highrise and loft construction defect claims are among the most legally and technically complex cases in Colorado construction defect law. A single defect in a multi-story building can ripple through hundreds of units simultaneously, involve dozens of subcontractors and insurance carriers, and generate repair costs that dwarf those of any other property type. For the HOA boards, unit owners, and investors who manage and live in these buildings, the financial and legal stakes are unlike anything found in lower-density residential construction.
At Hearn & Fleener, we have the specific expertise, forensic resources, and litigation experience required to handle construction defect claims at the scale and complexity that highrise and loft buildings demand. We have successfully represented Colorado high-rise communities ranging from boutique urban loft conversions to 800-unit luxury condominium towers, recovering the funds those communities needed to make comprehensive repairs without passing the cost to unit owners.
We work on a contingency fee basis, advancing all engineering, expert, and legal costs ourselves. Your reserves stay intact, and you only pay us when your community recovers.
One Construction Defect in a Colorado Highrise Can Cost Millions. We Make Sure the Builder Pays for It.
LOFT & HIGHRISE DEFECT EXPERTS
Colorado’s Premier Attorneys for Loft & Highrise Construction Defects.
The Denver skyline is a testament to Colorado's growth. But rapid high-density construction often comes with a hidden price, systemic construction defects that affect hundreds of owners at once.
Challenges.
Highrise and loft construction defect cases involve multi-story building systems, curtain wall facades, centralized mechanical infrastructure, and a scale of complexity that lower-density residential claims rarely match. We have navigated this complexity successfully for Colorado highrise communities for over four decades.
Specialization.
In a highrise or loft building, a single construction defect can ripple through hundreds of units and generate repair costs reaching into the tens of millions of dollars. We ensure that every element of your building's shared infrastructure is included in the scope of your claim and fully funded in the recovery.
HOAs.
Representing a high-rise HOA requires managing high-stakes litigation involving multiple developers, dozens of subcontractors, and numerous insurance carriers simultaneously. Hearn & Fleener has navigated exactly that complexity on behalf of Colorado highrise communities, coordinating engineering experts, forensic consultants, and legal strategy across claims that would overwhelm a less experienced firm.
Infrastructure.
A defect in one highrise unit almost never stays isolated. Shared structural systems, common mechanical infrastructure, and connected building envelopes mean a single construction failure can affect hundreds of units simultaneously. We build our forensic and legal strategy around documenting the full scope of that impact across the entire structure.
Protecting the Rights of Colorado Loft & High-Rise Communities
Discovering construction defects in a highrise or loft building raises questions that go far beyond those facing a smaller residential community. How do you coordinate a claim across hundreds of units? How do you pursue dozens of subcontractors and insurance carriers simultaneously while keeping your building operational? At Hearn & Fleener, we have answered every one of those questions for Colorado high-rise communities for over 40 years.
We discover the full scope of the defects through a comprehensive forensic investigation of every affected building system. We communicate our findings clearly to your HOA board, unit owners, and management company so every stakeholder understands the legal path forward. And when it is time to hold the builder accountable, we bring four decades of Colorado construction defect experience and an elite network of high-rise forensic experts to your community's case.
The scale of a high-rise construction defect claim can feel overwhelming. With Hearn & Fleener, your community never has to face it alone.
When the Stakes Are This High, You Need Attorneys Who Have Been Here Before.
Your Free, Four-Phase Evaluation Process for Colorado Loft & Highrise Communities
High-rise and loft construction defect investigations are among the most technically demanding evaluations in Colorado construction defect law. Every phase of our process is performed at no cost and no obligation to your association or ownership group. Here is exactly what our process looks like for our loft & highrise clients:
Research & Risk Analysis.
Our attorneys review your association's governing documents, CC&Rs, reserve study, developer warranties, and all purchase contracts. For highrise communities this phase includes a careful analysis of the development entity's ownership structure, the insurance coverage of each responsible party, and the financial viability of every potential defendant, critical factors when repair costs can reach into the tens of millions.
Free On-Site Inspection.
Our team inspects your building's envelope, structural systems, mechanical and electrical infrastructure, fire suppression systems, roofing, and common areas. For highrise buildings we bring curtain wall experts, high-rise mechanical engineers, and fire-life safety consultants as needed. Every defect across every affected floor is documented at our expense.
Construction Records Research.
We pull your building's complete construction history including permits, structural and mechanical plans, inspection reports, and all government filings. For highrise buildings this research identifies every trade contractor responsible for the mechanical, electrical, fire suppression, and envelope systems, giving us a complete picture of all responsible parties from the beginning.
Written Report & Presentation.
We compile our findings into a comprehensive written report and present them in person to your HOA board and management company. Our highrise board presentations address the concerns of unit owners across a large diverse community, covering the defects identified, the responsible parties, the projected repair scope, and the realistic financial outcome of pursuing a claim.
Common Defects.
Loft & Highrise Towers & Buildings.
Highrise and loft buildings face construction defects that are fundamentally different from those found in lower-density residential properties. The complexity of multi-story building systems, the scale of shared infrastructure, and the density of occupancy mean that defects in these buildings carry greater technical complexity, higher repair costs, and more significant life-safety implications than any other property type.
If your loft or highrise community is experiencing any of the following, you may have a valid Colorado construction defect claim:
Defect Types.
1
Mechanical
2
Garages
3
Elevators
4
HVAC
Window Failures.
Highrise buildings rely on complex curtain wall and window wall systems to manage water, wind, and thermal performance across dozens of floors. When these systems are improperly designed or installed, the consequences include widespread water intrusion through window perimeters, excessive air infiltration, and in severe cases, structural glazing failures that create life-safety risks for residents below.
Deficiencies in high-strength concrete flooring, post-tensioned slab systems, and structural steel connections are among the most serious defects a highrise building can face. When structural elements are not built to approved engineering specifications, the consequences can threaten the stability of the entire building and require extensive remediation affecting every floor simultaneously.
Structural.
HVAC Systems.
Highrise buildings rely on centralized chillers, boilers, cooling towers, and vertical plumbing stacks that serve every unit simultaneously. When these systems are improperly designed or installed, failures affect every floor at once, driving up energy costs, generating widespread comfort complaints, and causing progressive structural damage from hidden plumbing leaks within wall cavities.
Fire Systems.
Inadequate fire stopping between floors, pressurized stairwell failures, defective sprinkler systems, and compromised fire-rated assemblies all create direct regulatory exposure and potential liability for building owners and HOA boards. We treat fire and life-safety defects in highrise buildings with the highest level of urgency of any defect category we handle.
Substandard elevator installation and builder-grade mechanical components are a common source of premature failure in Colorado highrise buildings. When elevators fail ahead of their expected service life due to improper installation or inadequate specification, the repair costs are substantial and the impact on residents is immediate. These failures are fully recoverable under Colorado construction defect law.
Elevators.
Sound Proofing.
Failure to meet the Sound Transmission Class ratings required by Colorado building code between highrise units is one of the most common and most overlooked construction defects in urban loft and condominium buildings. When floor-ceiling assemblies and party walls fail to meet required acoustic standards, the resulting noise transfer between units drives resident dissatisfaction and can materially affect property values and resale appeal.
Successful Case Results.
The following are real results Hearn & Fleener has achieved for Colorado loft and highrise communities. Each case involved a different building, different defects, and a different scale of complexity, but the same outcome.
Full financial recovery for communities that had been failed by the developers and contractors who built their buildings. In every case, our clients paid nothing upfront, and the funds recovered were directed entirely toward permanent repairs.
The Hearn & Fleener Advantage: Proven Results for our Clients
Denver Highrise.
A landmark Denver condominium tower containing more than 800 units, with individual sales prices reaching up to $5 million, contacted Hearn & Fleener after residents experienced widespread construction failures throughout the building. Defects included water intrusion through the EIFS exterior cladding system, water intrusion around window perimeters across multiple floors, flat roof leaks and ponding, and widespread failures in the centralized heating and air conditioning systems. Hearn & Fleener assembled a team of highrise forensic specialists, curtain wall experts, and mechanical engineers to document the full scope of failures across all 800 units. The case was resolved through a confidential settlement that fully funded the comprehensive remediation the community required.
Aging Denver Highrise.
Hearn & Fleener represented an established Denver highrise community that began experiencing significant water intrusion following a capital improvement project at the building's rooftop pool. Improper design and construction of the pool installation allowed water to penetrate the rooftop structure and migrate into the floors below, causing progressive damage throughout the building. Hearn & Fleener pursued the responsible contractors and recovered $700,000 for the building, fully funding the repair of the rooftop installation and all associated water damage.
Highrise and loft construction defect claims involve more parties, more systems, and more financial complexity than any other property type. Colorado's filing deadlines are strict, and in high-rise cases the cost of delay compounds quickly.
Contact Hearn & Fleener today for a free confidential inspection and written report. No upfront costs, no obligation, and no disruption to your building's operations.
You only pay us when your community recovers.