Colorado Real Estate Journal -
It’s a new space for the American Institute of Architects Colorado Component that will serve the organization for the next decade – and completed at a fraction of typical interior finish costs. “It was an unheard of budget of $42 per square foot,” said Scott Lindenau, FAIA, design principal of Studio B Architects. “Usually, the budget is three times that but we were able to do a lot for a little.” Aspen-based Studio B Architects and Denver-based Hutton Architecture Studio were the architectural team in charge of the design and build-out of the new AIA Colorado office. The approximately 2,500- square-foot space at 303 E. 17th Ave. in Denver will serve as the home for the organization until at least 2021. The goal of the relocation and expansion from its former 1,600- sf space was not only to better serve its members but also to address the needs of members voiced during a 2010 new office options survey, according to AIA Colorado. AIA Colorado’s new office is designed with all Colorado materials, from reclaimed beetle-kill timber in the interior to using recycled drinking straws as a wall covering that provides not only sound deadening but also serves a pin board. The redesign of the space featured gutting the existing cubicles and opening up the office, including a double-height ceiling that brings light into whole space, explained Lindenau. As well, the new space offers all-perimeter offices – offices twice the size of those at its previous location – a large conference room that can be divided into two meeting rooms, a flex space for employees to gather and meet, large kitchen, state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment, storage room, more parking and an urban presence with public visibility. “The overall design is about functionality, efficiency, lots of light and open space,” he added. BCER Consulting Engineers, Stone Bridge Partners LLC and 186 Lighting Design Group completed the team as mechanical/electrical engineers, cost estimators and lighting designers, respectively. The Weitz Co. was the general contractor for the project, which was completed in June. Organizations that contributed to AIA Colorado’s new space include: 186 Lighting Design, Advanced Flooring Systems, AIA Colorado West, AIA Denver, Anderson Hallas Architects PC, Architectural Education Foundation, BCER Engineering, BrukettDesign, Dahl Decorative Kitchen & Bath, Ellipse Group LLC, ESCThul, Harrison Home Systems, Hutton Architecture, Lutron, Planar Systems, Savant Systems, Shaw Contract Group, Signature Wire, Skyco Shading Systems, Sonance, Stewart Filmscreens, Studio B, The Weitz Co., Acoustical Surfaces Inc., Acquilano Leslie Inc., AIA Colorado North, azure furniture Inc., CET and Associates LLC, The Gallegos Corp./Caesarstone: Illumination Systems, initial.AEC, The MH Cos., Mid Atlantic Products, Momentum Group, OfficeScapes, Powers Products Co., Raul J. Garcia photography architectural, The RMH Group, visual|interest, AIA Colorado South, Johnsonite, Stone Bridge Partners LLC, Teammates Commercial Interiors and To Market. Individuals who contributed include: Robert Fuller, AIA; Phil Gerou, FAIA; Ralph Hellman, AIA; Ernest Joyner, AIA; Jennifer Song Koeppe, AIA; Gail Pelsue, AIA; Steven Schonberger, AIA; Chris Stumm, AIA; John Yonushewski, FAIA; and Kitty Yuen, AIA.