Hey there, NOCO Crew!

Printing a House? Yep. Out in Greeley, Aims Community College and Alquist 3D are teaching people to build with robots that print concrete one layer at a time. We break down what students learn, from the design software to the mixer to the cleanup.

Foothills Mall, Take Three. The mall’s owner has a new plan to turn the indoor mall into an open-air center, minus the housing that was in the last plan, which is a weird change, if we say so. We look at what’s changed, why the last makeover fell short, and what the developer may ask the city for.

The Election Reminder That Won’t Text You. We know. Your phone has buzzed 47 times today with “URGENT: final notice!!!” from strangers who somehow know your first name. Relax: this message won’t ask for $5, a survey, or your opinion of anyone. It’s just the deadlines, the drop boxes, and how to track your ballot, with zero exclamation points. (Okay, maybe one.)

So grab a warm drink, and let’s dig in!

– David

Riding up the canyon. Standing at a workbench. Walking the dog. Pain can keep us from enjoying the little things in life that make life, well… life.

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Meet the team and book an assessment →

Fall back! Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. this Sunday, November 1, so set your clocks back an hour and enjoy the extra sleep. The catch is that sunsets jump to just before 5 p.m. That makes Election Day sunset about 4:54 p.m.

Most of us have heard of 3D printers that make little plastic trinkets. To be clear, we own a 3D printer, and you can certainly make more than toys. But, picture one that prints walls. Out of concrete. It sounds like science fiction, but it’s real, and people are learning to do it right here in Greeley.

Aims Community College has teamed up with Alquist 3D, a company that specializes in 3D concrete printing, to offer training in this up-and-coming construction method. Here’s how it works.

Wait, You Can Print Concrete?

You sure can. The basic idea is a lot like a regular 3D printer. A machine follows a digital design and lays down material one layer at a time, slowly building up a shape. The difference is that instead of plastic, it’s a special concrete mix. Supporters say it can be faster and use less material than traditional construction.

Step One: Learn The Basics Online

The training comes in two parts. First up is an online course called Introduction to 3D Concrete Printing. It’s self-paced, takes about 20 to 25 hours, and starts a new session the first Monday of every month. Students learn:

Step Two: Get Your Hands Dirty

Once students finish the online course, they can sign up for a three-day Hands-On Lab, from Friday through Sunday, 8am to 4pm. The lab takes place at the existing Applied Technology and Trades Center on the Aims Greeley campus. It’s split into two parts:

Module A: Coding and Design. This is where the digital world meets the robot. Students learn design software called Rhino 8. They start with simple 2D sketches (points, lines, and arcs) and work their way up to planning a multi-stage print, including how to leave openings for doors and windows. Then they use a tool called Grasshopper to turn those designs into G-code. That’s the set of instructions that tells the robot exactly where to move. Students also get hands-on practice controlling the robot and run simulations of their designs before printing them.

Module B: Material Science. This part covers the concrete itself and all the equipment that moves it. Students compare batch mixing (mixing concrete in loads) with continuous mixing (mixing nonstop as it prints). They check out a batch mixing system up close and run its controls dry, without any concrete in it. They also learn how the print head goes together, and how to set up a work site. Then comes the fun part: printing live concrete. And, because concrete waits for no one, students also learn the cleanup routine that keeps the equipment working for the long haul.

The most recent lab was scheduled for October 2–4. As of the date we published this, Aims hasn’t posted dates for the next one, so keep an eye on the program page.

What About That New Building?

You may have seen the new Aims Workforce Innovation Center going up on the Greeley campus. It’s a 49,500-square-foot building made with cross-laminated timber, and it’s heated and cooled with geothermal energy. Alquist 3D is signed up as its first industry tenant and plans to use one of the building’s innovation bays for research and development. The center’s page currently lists its opening as January 2027, which is a little later than the “late fall 2026” Aims announced earlier this year.

Just to be clear: the hands-on concrete printing lab happens at the existing Applied Technology and Trades Center, not the new building. Aims hasn’t said whether that will change once the new center opens.

Why It Matters For NOCO

When Alquist announced its partnership with Aims and the City of Greeley in 2023, founder Zachary Mannheimer said, “There is nowhere else on the planet where so much is happening all in one place to move structural 3D printing forward.” Big words! And whether 3D printed buildings become common or stay a niche, it’s pretty cool that people in Weld County can learn this cutting-edge skill without leaving town.

Learn more:

If you’ve lived in Fort Collins for a while, you’ve probably heard “the Foothills Mall is getting a makeover” more than once. Welp, there’s another plan on the table. Before anyone starts picturing ribbon cuttings, let’s be clear: this is an early concept, and nothing has been approved. Here’s what’s proposed, how it compares to the last plan, and what’s at stake for shoppers, merchants, and neighbors.

The New Idea: Un-mall The Mall

The mall’s owner, Realberry (formerly known as McWhinney… uh… yeah, it’s still the McWhinneys), submitted a design concept to Fort Collins city planners on October 15. The idea is to turn the enclosed mall into an open-air “lifestyle center.” The indoor hallways would become landscaped walkways, storefronts would face outdoor plazas, and there would be more space to gather and hang out. Shopping and dining would stay front and center.

The big twist is that Realberry now wants to reuse most of the existing buildings instead of tearing them down. It’s still considering demolishing “select areas” to make room for new buildings, and it says it’s in early talks with potential anchor tenants. A Realberry spokesperson stressed that the concept “will evolve through design, leasing and the city review process.”

What’s changed since 2023

The 2023 plan was a lot more ambitious:

The plans had already changed once before. By mid-2025, the developer had scaled the housing component back to about 300 homes, with roughly 11 acres of public space and trails. Now, the housing is gone entirely. That's probably the biggest change, especially in a city that has spent years talking about its housing shortage. Realberry hasn’t publicly said why it took the homes and offices out of the plan, at least not in any reporting we could find.

Why The Last Makeover Didn’t Stick

To understand why people might be skeptical, you have to look at the mall’s history.

In short, the redevelopment struggled with leasing, lower-than-expected sales, and financial problems. Changing shopping habits likely didn't help, either.

The Money Question

This is where things get complicated, so stick with us.

Back in 2012, a special taxing district called the Foothills Metropolitan District was created to help pay for the mall’s redevelopment. It can borrow money (issue bonds) and pay it back with taxes and fees collected inside the district.

According to the KUNC/BizWest reporting, Realberry wants to change the district’s agreement with the city so it can collect its debt-service tax for more years, which would let it borrow more against it. Realizing the vision would require City Council approval.

There’s some history here, too. In December 2024, the district requested changes to its financing agreement. By July 2025, the proposal would have increased its maximum authorized debt from about $73 million to $166 million, including refinancing existing debt, and extended the maximum repayment term from 25 to 40 years. That didn't mean $166 million in new taxpayer funding. City estimates put the potential new proceeds at roughly $75 million, with repayment coming from district property taxes, tax-related revenue, and fees on purchases at the mall.

The proposal was postponed several times before the developer withdrew it in August 2025. The city never approved those changes.

We don’t know yet what Realberry will ask for this time, or how it might differ from the 2024 version.

What It Could Mean For You

What Comes Next

For now, this is just a concept submitted to city planners. There’s no approval and no public hearing scheduled that we could find. If the plan moves forward, it will go through the city’s review process and eventually need City Council’s sign-off, including on any changes to the metro district. Those steps will include chances for public comment, so if you have opinions, now’s a good time to start paying attention.

Learn more:

Um, no. Sorry. But, that got your attention, right?

Quick heads-up, NOCO: Colorado’s general election is next Tuesday, November 3. If your ballot is still sitting on the kitchen counter, here’s what you need to know. As always, NOCO Word is non-partisan, so this is just the nuts and bolts.

Find What You Need:

We’ve toured the giant log estate and the cozy riverside cabin in Drake. Now we’re heading high into the forest, where the roads turn to gravel and the neighbors are mostly trees. This time we’re visiting a log cabin in the Crystal Lakes community near Red Feather Lakes, and it just might be the Goldilocks of our cabin collection: not too big, not too small, and surrounded by just the right amount of wilderness.

Built From Logs, Just Like It Should Be

This log cabin was built in 1996 in a classic chalet style, with a sturdy metal roof and a freshly stained exterior. It has about 1,560 square feet over two levels, with two bedrooms, so there’s room for family or a couple of friends without losing that cozy cabin feel.

Inside, cathedral ceilings and skylights fill the space with light, and the open floor plan makes it feel bigger than it is. And, of course, there’s a wood-burning stove — the beating heart of any proper mountain cabin. Picture snow piling up outside the windows while the stove crackles, and a pot of chili simmers away. Now, that’s a winter weekend.

A Loft, Lower level, & Room To Roam

Up top, there’s a loft, the perfect spot for a reading nook, a home office with a view, or a place for the kids to camp out. The walkout lower level has an extra bedroom, so guests can have a little space of their own.

Outside, there are covered decks on both the front and back of the cabin, with views of the mountains. You can sip your morning coffee on one and watch the sunset from the other. Sounds like a pretty great way to spend a day.

Nearly Four Acres Of Forest (and a stream!)

The cabin sits on almost four wooded acres, and a stream runs through the property. Imagine falling asleep to the sound of running water…

The land is even zoned for two horses, in case you’ve always dreamed of riding off into the sunset.

And the fun doesn’t stop at the property line. The Crystal Lakes community has several private, stocked lakes and ponds, trails, a park, and a playground.

Mountain Living With Modern Comforts

This cabin is tucked away on a private gravel road, but it still has electricity, a well, and a two-car garage. Basically, it has all the charm of the backcountry without sending you back to the 1800s. There’s even a storage shed for fishing poles, snowshoes, and that kayak you keep meaning to use.

Bottom Line

Some cabins impress you with their size. Others steal your heart with their history. This one wins you over with a little bit of everything: trees as far as you can see, water nearby, and a woodstove waiting on a snowy night. Whether or not it’s in your future, a drive up to Red Feather Lakes this fall is a great reminder of how lucky we are to have this kind of beauty just up the road.

Source: Homes.com – Red Feather Lakes log cabin listing

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