Colorado Real Estate Journal -

CDE News Briefs

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Pinkard Construction starts Mercantile Bldg. work

Pinkard Construction is under way on the renovation of the Mercantile Building in Lower Downtown Denver.

Pinkard will perform core-and-shell renovations to the six-story mixed-use building, whose tenants include the Tattered Cover, as well as the four story office building immediately adjacent to the west.

Work at the historic buildings at 16th and Wynkoop streets includes the addition of a new elevator, new stairwells, restrooms, life safety additions and switching the heating for both heat and domestic hot water from high-pressured steam to natural gas fired boilers.

The conversion, fully engineered by MD Engineering, includes major structural renovations for the new stairwells and cutting through a 41-inch thick, early 1990s load-bearing interior brick wall to provide elevator and stairwell access.

When completed, the two buildings will be better suited to accommodate office and residential traffic to the upper floors without disrupting the Tattered Cover’s business on the first three floors.

The fast-track project is scheduled to be complete in December for owner Mercantile Commercial LLC. The architect is OZ Architecture.

Also, 31,000 square feet of office space is available for lease, which will require tenant improvements when a new tenant(s) is identified.

Coughlin Property Management LLC will serve as the construction administrator and the owner’s representative.

Power Design to expand to Colorado

Power Design Inc., an electrical contractor, is expanding its operations into Colorado.

The St. Petersburg, Fla., based firm recently was awarded the Alameda Station project in Denver.

“The expansion into Colorado is a major milestone for the growth and success of Power Design, and we are looking forward to establishing ourselves in this new market,” said Stephen Beals, divisional operations manager. “We are thrilled to have our first venture in this state be our 11th project with Wood Partners and are happy to continue our relationship with the nationally recognized developer.” The 338-unit Alameda Station community, located in the Baker Historic District, will be constructed on more than five acres and with access to the Alameda light-rail station. Construction already has begun on the property, which includes a sustainable green design and pedestrian-friendly urban living.

BRS project may become national landmark

Building Restoration Specialties Inc., a local restoration company, last year completed restoration of Civic Center Park, its Greek Amphitheater and Voorheis Memorial, as well as the City and County Building.

Recently, Historic Denver nominated Civic Center Park, along with the state Capitol building and Veteran’s Park, to be designated as a national historic landmark. The Better Denver Bond Project funded the $9.5 million Civic Center Park restoration.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will make the final decision within the next several months.

BRS currently is in the process of restoring the McNichols Building.

CSNA recognized for Bal Seal facility

CSNA and Bal Seal Engineering recently received a citation for design excellence from the American Institute of Architects Colorado South Chapter for Bal Seal Engineering’s yetto-be-built facility in Colorado Springs.

AIA Colorado South named the project its Citation Award winner in the “unbuilt architecture” category. CSNA and Bal Seal are planning the 155,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 1350 Belpratt View.

The design was selected from 12 entries and was one of only five selected this year in all categories.

“The unbuilt category isn’t frequently awarded – no awards were given in this category in 2011,” said Alaina Gonzales, membership and communication manager for AIA Colorado. “This project caught the attention of the judges.” At completion, the $45 million facility will house high tech manufacturing equipment that the company uses to make Bal Seal Spring energized Seals, Bal Seal Canted Coil Springs and connector systems.

The construction is estimated to result in the creation of around 200 jobs.

An official groundbreaking ceremony was held in June on the 18-acre site.

Swanson Rink completes electrical systems for center

Swanson Rink recently completed design of the electrical systems for mall concourses, courts, entries and other ancillary spaces for the Taubman Co.’s City Creek Center in Salt Lake City.

The LEED ND-certified retail center comprises more than 1 million square feet, including 700,000 sf of retail and restaurant space and 275,000 sf of anchor stores.

Swanson Rink also provided design of the security and audio video systems. Security system design included call-for-assistance phone stations, closed-circuit television, access control and door monitoring.

The audio system includes high-fidelity background music and public address system for the mall common areas and the four levels of below grade elevated parking.

The firm also designed the telecommunications systems, which encompass cabling and wiring infrastructure and design of the complete voice and data provisions for all life safety systems.

Swanson Rink previously worked with the Taubman Co., including work on Cherry Creek Mall.

Pinkard, SlaterPaull finish renovation of school

Pinkard Construction Co., along with SlaterPaull Architects, has completed the renovation of Horace Mann Elementary School for Denver Public Schools.

The $1.2 million renovation of the 1930s school included replacing the auditorium ceiling, auditorium seating, toilet partitions, gymnasium flooring, a stage expansion, and painting the walls and ceilings of the entire school.

The fast-track project was completed on time and within budget.

Rosenman Associates Architects to design memorial

Rosenman Associates Architects was selected to design the new Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Colorado Veterans Monument within Civic Center in Denver.

The memorial will be a simple, red sandstone cenotaph with inscriptions on the east side facing the state Capitol.

The inscriptions, on inlaid gray granite plaques, will commemorate the fallen in six conflicts since World War I.

The team of consultants working on the project include Martin/Martin for structural engineering, MKK Consulting Engineers Inc. for lighting design and Civitas for landscape architecture. Saunders Construction, the builder of the original monument, is contributing its talents to the new memorial.

Dunakilly partners on completion of crime lab

Dunakilly Management partnered with PB Americas to provide owner’s management and lead project management services for the Denver Crime Lab.

The $36 million, 60,000- square-foot facility was recently completed and provides enhanced forensic capabilities with expanded resources available in a single location. The building was designed and constructed to achieve LEED certification under the city’s Greenprint Denver initiative.

The project was part of the Better Denver Bond Program.

Westwood named as one of fastest-growing firms

Westwood Professional Services was named one of the 100 fastest-growing architecture, engineering, planning and environmental firms in the nation on The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List for 2012.

Michael Lang, PLS, leads the Colorado office, which specializes in apartments, senior housing, single- and multifamily developments, masterplanned communities, retail centers, industrial parks, institutional and office facilities.

The firm also is involved in wind and solar energy, electric transmission, and oil, gas and pipeline development along the Front Range and throughout the region.

Stresscon Corp. receives workplace safety award

Colorado Springs’ Stresscon Corp. recently was honored by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment for its workplace safety records.

Stresscon was one of six Colorado-based recipients, each certified by the Division of Worker’s Compensations Premium Cost Containment Program, which guides employers in establishing safety practices to reduce work-related injuries.

MKK Consulting Engineers opens North Dakota office

MKK Consulting Engineers Inc. opened its Dickinson, N.D., office, which will serve as the firm’s home base for the projects it is currently working on in the area and ultimately will be staffed full time by an engineer.