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84 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / September 2020 I n development, no two deals are the same, and success in high-stakes, speculative commercial office construc- tion invariably comes down to decision making. Of the many choices to bemade, relationships and strategy are easy to recognize as the most impactful on the finished product. Jim Neenan, president and CEO of Prime West Development, has been a pivotal figure in the Front Range developmentmarket formore than two decades and appreci- atespeopleandprocessesas the functional epicenter of every choice hemakes. “When you develop a commercial office tower, noth- ing seems all that complicated at the ribbon-cutting,” says Neenan with slight amusement. “However, it’s never easy. Whether we are considering how to get the most value out of the assets or dealingwith a global pandemic like COVID-19, challenging circumstances arise on every project. The most important thing is putting together a team that works cohe- sively.” As 6900 Layton, Prime West’s latest development endeavor races toward completion, Neenan’s confident assessment of the fundamentals remains unshakable. Located just 200 feet from the light-rail platform at Belleview Station, 6900 Layton is a sleek 385,000-square-foot Class AA office tower that an- ticipates making a thoughtful contribution to the emerging transit-oriented development district before the year is out. Designed to achieve LEED Gold status, 6900 Layton is already 50%preleasedasheadquarters toNewmontMiningCorp. and the entire teamhas been driving the project forward tomeet the schedule right fromthe start. “We partnered with general contractor Weitz Co. and the architects in Gensler’s Denver studio in a design-build deliv- ery,” says Neenan. The well-established partnership has been in place to deliver dozens of successful commercial office buildings for Prime West, including the district’s predecessor activator, One Belleview Station, just a block away. “Together as a team, we have pushed expectations on innovation and schedule. The resultwill beanelegant, progressive,mixed-use office asset further animating what is becoming a dynamic node on the southeast light-rail line.” At 15 stories tall and covered exclusively in a jointless, glass curtain wall, the inspiration for 6900 Layton’s shimmering façades started to take rootwhile PrimeWest touredprospec- tive tenants through, One BelleviewStation. “Whenwewerewalkingpotential tenants throughOneBel- leviewStation, people always seemed to gravitate toward the corners where the floor-to-ceiling windows showcase spec- tacular views ineverydirection,” saysNeenanof thehigh-rise tower housing his own office. “In seeing people’s natural at- traction to the views and daylight, we felt it was imperative to take that idea even further and bring an all-glass façade to all four faces of 6900 Layton.” The design solution sought by Gensler needed to balance the desire for expansive views from every angle with the schedule intensity compelled by the early signing of the an- chor tenant, Newmont Mining’s move-in date. Committed to creatingabetterworld throughthepower of design, Gensler’s / Long-Time Allies / OPENING ART: 6900 Layton is a sleek 385,000-square-foot Class AA office tower that anticipates making a thoughtful contribution to the emerging transit-oriented development district before the year is out. Courtesy Rocky Mountain Photography TOP RIGHT: At 15 stories, 6900 Layton is covered in a jointless, galss curtain wall. BOTTOM RIGHT: A rendering of the lobby PROJECT TEAM DEVELOPER: PRIME WEST DEVELOPMENT GENERAL CONTRACTOR: WEITZ CO. ARCHITECT: GENSLER