Set on 141 acres along the Roaring Fork River, Coffman Ranch is one of the most ecologically intact landscapes in the valley. Protected and stewarded by the Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT), the ranch contains a mosaic of riparian corridors, wetlands, and upland habitat that supports more than 300 documented species.

Working alongside AVLT and DesignWorkshop, CCY developed a master plan for a community education and conservation center that integrates new structures with the site’s historic agricultural buildings. The design includes an open-air gathering barn, learning lab, community kitchen, and restoration of the original dairy barn.

Inspired by the weathered wood and metal of the existing ranch buildings, the new architecture is simple, durable, and intentionally restrained. Structures are designed to support programming while deferring to the surrounding landscape — reinforcing the ranch’s role as a place of stewardship, education, and connection to land.

“Coffman Ranch sits where river ecology, working agriculture, and community overlap. Its power is in that connectivity — one of the best places in the valley where people can feel linked to the land and the river, and come to learn the responsibility of stewardship.”
– Jeff Davlyn, AVLT's Philanthropy Director

AVLT’s vision extends beyond preservation. The goal is to maintain a working ranch — with soil health, flowing water, wildlife habitat, and food production at its core — while inviting the community to understand the value of conservation firsthand.