Alpine-Balsam Western City Campus and Goose Creek Flood Mitigation

From flood hazard to mixed-use community hub

Location: Boulder, CO

Stream has been a pivotal partner in the Alpine-Balsam Western City Campus redevelopment project. The redevelopment of the Alpine-Balsam site in Boulder, Colorado demonstrates how flood infrastructure can do more than mitigate risk—it can transform a former hospital site into a vibrant, community-centered place. Located at the headwaters of Goose Creek, the project plays a critical role in a broader, citywide effort to reduce flood risk throughout the watershed while advancing Boulder’s long-term resilience and climate goals.

Formerly the Boulder Community Health hospital campus, the 8.8-acre site is being reimagined as a mixed-use district integrating housing, civic space, and public open space with a redesigned flood conveyance system. Before redevelopment could occur, more than two-thirds of the site needed to be removed from the 100-year floodplain—making flood mitigation the foundational driver of the project.

At the core of the project is the transformation of a conventional flood control channel along Balsam Avenue into a naturalized greenway that manages stormwater while enhancing ecological function and public life. An integrated green infrastructure approach combines grading, planting design, and hydraulic modeling to stabilize flows, improve water quality, and create habitat. Complementing this system, green infrastructure is embedded within the Balsam Avenue right-of-way, where curbside bioretention and landscape-based treatment systems address roadway runoff and meet water quality requirements while contributing to the streetscape.

This community-centric approach extends beyond the channel. Multi-modal improvements—including enhanced pedestrian crossings, protected bicycle facilities, and park-oriented trails—connect the site to North Boulder Park and surrounding neighborhoods, reinforcing its role as both civic and ecological infrastructure.

The team addressed complex drainage challenges with integrated stormwater solutions aligned with community goals. This collaborative framework enabled the team to navigate constraints—such as floodplain requirements, tree preservation, and construction sequencing—and transform them into opportunities for innovation.

As part of the larger Alpine-Balsam redevelopment, the Western City Campus further anchors the site as a civic hub—demonstrating how infrastructure, architecture, and landscape can work together to create a valuable ecological amenity and a resilient community. Project completion is anticipated in 2026.