Building Dialogue

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12 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / JUNE 2015
Publisher’s Note
L et’s face it. Millennials are hot. Who they are. What they want. How they work best. We all
want to know. That is, “everyone else” wants to know. We want to know because the millen-
nial generation has become the largest generation in the workforce – now outnumbering
working adults in Generation X. And the baby boomers, which they outnumbered last year.
Several trend pieces in this issue address what this shift in the workforce might mean to
office design. Abbey Lyon of Kieding Architects emphasizes the wellness aspect that is central to
the millennial generation. Mary Kay Sunset of Semple Brown breaks down workplace trends that
appeal to this group, from collaborative space to mobile work style to sustainability. And Moving
Forward contributor Jenny West kicks off the conversation about generations in the workplace,
looking beyond the millennials and ahead to Generation Z.
Of course, the discussion of open space vs. private space continues. Healthy buildings are another
hot topic, from the mechanical systems that are involved in theWELL building revolution to green
walls installed at Colorado State University. Another story explores RiNo, which provides unique
tenant amenities at value rates. And branding strategy is front and center in new developments.
Construction industry leaders open up about taking care of the client, technology, the labor short-
age, project financing and growing business.
Beth Mosenthal remembers the late Michael Graves in her Creative Content column – from
meeting the larger-than-life architect in his studio to his iconic addition to the Denver Central
Library in 1995.
End users will find design expertise in Cynthia Kemper’s Colorado Pulse and Sharon Barrett’s
End Users columns. Joy Spatz showcases another professional who is Leading the Way – Boulder
County’s Flood Recovery Manager Garry Sanfancon.
Feature stories in this issue include 1601 Wewatta, the Class AA Hines project adjacent to Union
Station, and 250 Columbine, a mixed-use development in Cherry Creek. Amy Burkett is featured
as she is named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. St. Vrain is getting a brand-new
health and human services complex while Fairmount Cemetery, resting place to some of Den-
ver’s leading architects, is getting a face-lift. Don’t miss the story on Denver’s unique forensics lab.
Contractors specializing in niche projects, historic building design considerations in the Equitable
Building and overcoming obstacles in the South Lowell apartment rehab project round out the
content – along with a very recognizable Littleton landmark and a new feature: postcards from
faraway projects.
Your input has been invaluable in building the dialogue. Keep the ideas coming.
mil·len·nial
noun / mi'lenēel / a person reaching young adulthood around the
year 2000; Gen Y
everyone
pronoun / evrē,wen/ every person
else
adverb / els/ in addition; besides