Colorado Real Estate Journal -

CDE News Briefs

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GH Phipps breaks ground on Denver office facility

GH Phipps recently was awarded the $3.4 million project to construct a new building for Northwestern Mutual’s west Denver office.

The 18,600-square-foot building, designed by Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture, includes open and closed offices, conference rooms, a café/bar/kitchen area, locker rooms, and a lobby with a fireplace.

The three-level building includes a garden level.

Groundbreaking was Oct. 15 and completion is anticipated for late May.

Shaw Construction starts Grand Junction projects

Shaw Construction is under way on a pair of projects in Grand Junction.

In October, the firm started work on the Grand Junction Fire Administration Building. Work includes demolition, asbestos removal, renovation and addition to the former police building.

Work is slated for completion in April.

Shaw Construction also is working on the 9,000-square-foot addition to an existing library to increase patron and community use. The Mesa County Central Library expansion includes demolition, asbestos removal, site improvements, and remodel and update of infrastructure.

Completion is targeted on the $5.2 million project in May.

BRS completes work on McNichols Building

Building Restoration Specialties Inc. has finished the historic masonry façade of the Carnegie Library, now called the McNichols Building, at the northwest corner of Civic Center Park.

Over the summer, BRS restored window openings to their original intent and hand carved the stone window surrounds that were removed in a previous remodel. After patching some areas and installing new stone where the existing stone could not be salvaged, BRS washed the entire building to return it to its original “elegance.” One of the challenges faced by BRS was extracting large pieces of stone, some as large as 5,000 pounds, in order to build a new entrance into the structure.

“It’s been very gratifying to work on the McNichols Building,” stated BRS President Rhonda Maas. “It is surrounded by other newly restored structures and the entire area is just beautiful now. We’re glad to see the revitalization of Civic Center Park and are proud to be on the team that strives to keep it beautiful.”

Stresscon Corp. finishes concrete for RTD line

Colorado Springs-based Stresscon Corp. recently completed erection of the architectural precast concrete for the Regional Transportation District West Rail Line at Wadsworth Boulevard.

The structure is a four-level parking garage serving the RTD passengers at Wadsworth and 13th Avenue, the primary RTD station for the city of Lakewood.

Gensler Architects designed the garage, which features precast concrete spandrels and column covers in two colors. The tan panels form a large multibay and multistory “picture-frame effect” surrounding the gray elements.

This color-defined frame effect is emphasized by a three-inch projecting gray bull nose that is cast into the tan panels.

In addition to the frame and bull nose concept, many of the gray spandrels were cast on a horizontal ribbed form liner. The resultant ribs, in combination with shadow lines created by the steps in the face of concrete, adds architectural interest to the building.

There are a total of 187 pieces of architectural precast concrete, all cast on a fiberglass form. All of the elements are given an acidetch finish that simulates the look of natural stone, but at a significant savings in cost.

Merrick provides site engineering for Cabela’s store

Merrick & Co. provided site engineering for Cabela’s new store at RidgeGate Commons.

The firm provided all civil engineering for the project, including grading design, drainage engineering, utility engineering, parking lot designs, egress/ ingress, perimeter roads and other site elements.

The store comprises a 105,600-square-foot floor plan and 530 parking spaces. The entire parcel consists of a 30-acre site and includes a four-story hotel, two additional anchor store pads and two retail store pad sites at Interstate 25 and RidgeGate Parkway in Lone Tree.

Coventry Development is the developer of the project.

Merrick & Co.’s various entities also were awarded several new contracts, including: summer consulting for the Plum Island Waste Water Thermal Decontamination Systems Upgrade for the Department of Homeland Security; the steam distribution study at Marshall Space Flight Center on the Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, Ala.; and the first task order by Western Area Power Administration (Loveland) as part of a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract.

Rowland+Broughton completing work in Aspen

Rowland+Broughton Architecture and Urban Design is completing several Aspen and Basalt projects geared for completion in the coming weeks.

By Thanksgiving, R+B will finish the Hotel Jerome project for client Auberge Resorts.

Rowland+Broughton is serving as architect of record for the renovation, which began in August. The scope of the work encompassed updates to 94 guest rooms, the restaurant, spa, grand ballroom, meeting spaces and updated finishes throughout.

The firm also will complete this winter work on the newest addition to Aspen’s dining scene. The White House will transform a historic house in town into a restaurant concept by Hillstone Restaurant Group. The interior will feature reclaimed wood floors, exposed brick, wood-paneled walls and banquet-style seating.

In Basalt, work will finish this month on Woody Creek Distillery. The 10,000-square-foot space in the Mid-Valley Business Center features state-of-the-art stills imported from Germany, a 2,000- sf tasting room and gift shop as well as the ability to hold private events.

As well, R+B currently is developing interior layouts, providing design renderings, color schemes and design boards for Hilton Global Design and the renovation of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Durango.

Construction currently is under way on the work, which includes providing specifications for guest rooms, such as furniture, artwork and accessories. R+B also is managing the specifications for corridor renovations, which includes carpet/pad/base, decorative lighting, wall coverings and wood refinishing. The design inspiration has been drawn from the regional geography, local culture and surrounding attractions.

Foothills starts construction of new restaurant concept

Foothills Commercial Builders was awarded the contract for the Slotted Spoon, a meatball eatery.

The project consists of the demolition of a former Souper Salad restaurant at 2730 S. Colorado Blvd., No. 19, in Denver, for construction of the fast-casual restaurant concept. The King Soopers-anchored center is the first location for Slotted Spoon, which is actively pursuing its second location.

The firm also is working on the relocation of Murphy Plastic Surgery from one medical office building to another MOB on the Swedish Medical Center campus.

The new build-out allows for significant upgrades in finishes to the space at 799 E. Hampden Ave., MOB III, No. 530, Englewood.

Foothills Commercial Builders also is doing a complete rebranding of both the retail and operations portions of Visionworks’ Aurora and Denver locations. An upgrade of all American with Disabilities Act components is included. The stores had to remain open and operational every day.

Saunders breaks ground on Groove Toyota-Scion facility

Saunders Construction Inc. recently celebrated the official groundbreaking for the new Groove Toyota-Scion on South Broadway in Englewood.

The project includes new construction and remodeling an existing facility. Groove Toyota will now have a new sales showroom double the size of its current space, new customer service lounges, additional customer parking, indoor vehicle delivery, three-lane service reception, express lube, a detail center as well as a new parts and accessory store. There also will be a significant remodeling of service and parts, and related site work.

The facility is located at 5460 S. Broadway and slated for completion in October.

Saunders is the construction manager and general contractor.

Nudell Architects is the designer and architect of record.