CREJ - Building Dialogue - March 2016
ev·o·lu·tion noun/eve’looSH(e)n/the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form. rev·o·lu·tion noun/reve’looSH(e)n/a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system. While “a forcible overthrow of social order “ is extreme, there is no denying that evolution is a constant these days. Not only are workplaces evolving from the “Mad Men” era into 21st century design, but so are other “spaces” in which we live (micro-housing), eat (food halls) exercise (think Orange Theory) and, one day soon, even commute (the driverless car). Some changes are profound while others are more cosmetic, but they all add up to improving the human experience. A new color palette is on tap this year to help renew and redefine your space; lobbies evolve into the “third workspace”; and water reuse is evolving into greywater reuse. Columnists this month reflect on evolution as well. Joy Spatz captures Former Denver Mayor Federico Peña’s enthusiasm for growing Denver and setting the stage for today’s successes. Beth Mosenthal makes a case for moving beyond ADA compliance and actually designing with a new focus on the language of accessibility. And Jenny West sheds light on new considerations for the design of higher education facilities. Other highlights include the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, which had a face-lift just in time for its 10th anniversary; CDOT tackled its first build-to-suit office project in more than 30 years; OZ Architecture shared its creativity in its new RiNo home with an 8-foot graphic mural; the International Association of Fire Fighters Memorial in Colorado Springs was rebuilt; and DIA unveiled its Westin hotel and conference center. In addition, we’re launching Best Practices content, this time looking at proactive design. Features in this issue range from breathing new life into the old Bindery on Blake to the completion of the new Wencel Building in Boulder – fitting into the neighborhood while speaking to the tenant experience – to implementing a new, homegrown technique for construction of the Hyatt House Belmar. Finally, architect Jeffrey Sheppard shares his passion for Denver and its architecture – and offers ways design could evolve. Speaking of evolution, check out the mother ship’s new and improved website: www.crej.com. We’re listening, so keep this dialogue going! Kris Oppermann Stern Publisher & Editor kostern@crej.com