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44 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / June 2020 ELEMENTS ProjectManagement Delta Dental of Colorado Project in Centennial Moving Forward W ith social distancing and other safety precautions inmind, constructionbe- gan inApril onDeltaDental of Colora- do’s dynamic newoffice space. Delta Dental of Colorado, the state’s leading dental benefits provider, has assembled a team of professionals to execute a multifaceted plan to move its offices to Centennial later this year, when its lease ends after 25 years in the same building. The 55,000-square-foot space in Peakview Tower at 6465 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. will accommodate nearly 200 teammembers who work for the nonprofit organiza- tion and relatedDelta Dental of Colorado Foundation. The project got underway with construction work- ers ruled essential and exempt under the stay-at-home order but adhering to the state’s guidelines tohelp stop the spread of COVID-19. DDCO is expecting to move in October and officially open the new office in Novem- ber. Design and construction for the new location is be- ing overseen by a teamof DDCO leaders and Stantec, a global leader indesign. CBRE is thebrokeragecompany and Fitzmartin Consulting is performing project man- agement. GregVochis, vicepresident andchief financial officer for Delta Dental of Colorado, said the company’s exist- ing offices on South Ulster Street are spread out across three separate floors, andone of his primarygoalswith the new office project is more intelligent use of space. While the new office is roughly the same square foot- age as the existing space, DDCO will be able to use the space much more efficiently, allowing room to grow and easier access to upgraded amenities. Having a knowledgeable team to shepherd the proj- ect through its multiple phases is crucial when plot- ting out a bigmove, Vochis said. “Early on, we saw the importance of bringing in the right partners and acknowledging that we don’t have theexpertiseourselves,”hesaid inJanuary,whenarchi- tecture design and furniture selection were occurring. “Our core competency is being the best dental benefits provider in the state of Colorado. We can best continue to serve all our stakeholders by having the right part- ners to assist us throughout the project.” Sustainability, continuity and natural light have beenkey focuses fromthe beginning stages of the proj- ect, said Sarah McGarry, a principal with Stantec and the project’s lead designer. Abeautiful, cascading staircase is strategicallyplaced at the perimeter of the building to let light into the of- fice areas, as well as an inviting café that’s intended to encourage collaboration. A living wall near the recep- tion desk adds floral flair and awelcoming presence to greet visitors andDDCO teammembers alike. At the beginning of the design phase, McGarry met with each department head to envision and create a cohesive working space in which workflow adjacency was a priority. Currently, staff is segmented and spread out across noncontiguous floors, resulting in a physi- cally fractured environment, according toMcGarry. The building will get a new sign that can be seen for miles, and thewalls insidewill be adornedwith engag- ing artwork that brightens each roomandhallway. The artwork and office design will reflect the work DDCO and the Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation performs throughout the State of Colorado, and the positive im- pact both organizations have on the community. “DDCO wanted to make a space that was something the employees are proud of and they’re happy to be at work,”McGarry said. Fitzmartin, in conjunction with Delta Dental of Col- orado, is wrapping up the balance of selection for the project team: Signarama DTC Signs for Building Sig- nage, Rand for construction, Wire to Wire for cabling, King System’s for AV and Elements for all new office furniture in a newly created rapid-prototyping process to enhance the office culture experience. We have assembled a dream team, the city of Cen- tennial permitting is fabulous with quick reviews, JLL property management team is rolling out the red car- pet for us in the building, andwe are belowbudget. \\ Don@fitzmartin.us Don Fitzmartin President & CEO, Fitzmartin Consulting Co. A living wall near the reception desk adds floral flair and a welcoming presence to greet visitors and DDCO team members alike. An inviting café is intended to encourage collaboration.