How IronHaven Homes is transforming the Boise valley
Russ Van Wagenen founded IronHaven Homes (IronHaven) in 2020. “I came from a background of building high volume semi-custom homes all over the Boise Metro area,” he begins. “I wanted to tackle a different niche in the market, and early on, we created an in-house architecture team to be able to help facilitate design for our homes. The architecture team has expanded since then and design services are now offered to other builders and homeowner clients for their projects throughout the entire state of Idaho. Overall, IronHaven has grown quickly and now has a team of over ten people,” he adds.
Expanding on his background, Russ continues, “my career journey started while I was in high school growing up in Eagle, Idaho. My family’s next-door neighbor was
a builder. He provided the opportunity to work on his jobsites in the summer. I began picking up trash and performing odd jobs on the homes he was building. This introduction into residential construction cultivated a strong passion for the industry and motivated me to obtain my degree in construction management. After co-founding a local homebuilding company out of college in 2009 and then selling my ownership portion in early 2020, the path was paved for the creation of IronHaven.”
Versatility and innovation
Russ explains the company’s distinctive vision and what differentiates it in a busy marketplace: “IronHaven stands out by offering unique and eye-catching architecture with its in-house architecture team and by being flexible with the types of projects it builds. We prefer to take on a variety of project types and sizes and showcase our versatility rather than confine ourselves to only one niche product type. We enjoy the challenge that different architectural styles demand, and we strive to innovate in all facets of the business.
“Every home we design is unique and captures the style that the client prefers. Each client’s personality is different, and we curate the design process, so each home is an expression of the client’s tastes. Our design and build process is a very hands-on experience and we invite our clients to be as involved as they’d like. This makes it extremely rewarding after completion because it’s the culmination of months or years of hard work by our team. We cultivate a culture where each member of the IronHaven team understands the big picture and what we are trying to create. This brings out the best in each of us and translates into our work on each project.”
Russ outlines what this looks like in practical terms using the example of one of IronHaven’s recent projects. “The entire Lakemoor project was such a unique and challenging experience. It’s a collection of four hillside homesites in Eagle, Idaho with tremendous views of the Boise foothills. We dealt with small building footprints, which required the home designs to go more vertical and ended up being three stories, with the garage on the ground floor. Construction was a giant logistics puzzle as we navigated building the homes on a cul-de-sac where all the adjacent homes were already finished. The design phase took one year and construction lasted 18 months. Once completed, there was a great sense of accomplishment amongst our team because of all the time and effort invested in the project. Lakemoor 94 is one of my favorite homes because the kitchen and main living area are on the top floor with a large outdoor balcony space with views that are to die for!”
Elevating design
Russ highlights another illustrative example: “A home that was recently completed in Eagle, Idaho was built on a homesite on the Boise River in the Riverstone Community. Our client had specific needs and requirements regarding the floor plan and design features. We designed the home to maximize its views and proximity to the river by creating a large outdoor patio and living space in the rear. The build went very smoothly, and our client loved the result.”
Flexibility and the agility to adapt to a fast-paced market have been key to IronHaven’s success. According to Russ, taking this approach has enabled the business to “take advantage of niches and opportunities in the market. Fostering win-win business relationships is also very important. Residential construction is very much an industry driven by relationships, especially in a smaller market like Boise.”
Russ is excited about what the rest of this year will hold for the business. “Many of the upcoming properties will continue to display the diverse project types we can build and provide new opportunities for growth. The projects range from modern townhomes across from Whitewater Park in Boise to a $3.5 million custom home boasting some of the best views I’ve ever seen in our valley.”
Looking further forward, IronHaven is seeking to push the envelope for design in Boise. “I want to be one of the builders that brings new architecture styles to the valley. I think there is such an opportunity to elevate the custom home market here and introduce new features and designs,” Russ ends.
In a short time, IronHaven has gained a name for creating unique homes that take advantage of the stunning views of the Boise valley and is set to continue building groundbreaking projects as the business continues to expand.