CREJ - Retail Properties Quarterly - November 2017
In the heart of Highlands Ranch, near the intersection of Lucent Boulevard and Highlands Ranch Parkway, Central Park Retail Center is satisfying the shopping, dining and recreation demands of the surrounding community. Developer Shea Properties engaged Howell Construction as General Contractor for the project, including full development of an 11-acre site and ground up construction of seven new core-and-shell retail structures, each approximately 8,000 square feet in size. Howell is also responsible for over-excavation and soil re-compaction below each of the seven building pads, underground utilities (storm, water, sanitary), building foundations comprised of spread footings with slab-on-grade, and structural steel building frames. Already, four retail tenants have moved into their spaces and are open for business, and several more will open within the next year as leases are negotiated. All retail shops are expected to open by summer 2018. Among the committed businesses are Barre3, Orange Theory Fitness, MAD Greens and Old Chicago. Adjacent to the Retail Center, Howell has completed Shea Properties' Central Park Utility Building and the affectionately dubbed “Chopstix.” Not the well-known restaurant of the same name, and not a pure sculpture despite its elegant form, it is instead a radio communications tower for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. An arrangement of three tapering steel poles, the tallest of which is 150 feet above grade, painted a stunning International Orange (think Golden Gate Bridge), the tower improves public-safety radio coverage for the department and other first responders in the area. With its sculptural form, Chopstix, which is sited in the middle of a community plaza, also serves as de facto public art and a highly visible icon. Its vibrant orange hue is carried over as an accent color throughout the entire retail development. The utility building next to the plaza area will house the radio equipment, generator, and public restrooms. Erecting the Chopstix towers required a critical, tandem crane pick. Using two cranes simultaneously, the team set the massive poles in place with intense safety planning and precise execution. “The safety of the public and our employees is always our number one priority,” explains Jeremy Kellogg, Howell's Project Manager and a member of the company's safety committee. Prior to starting any erection work, Howell performed an extensive job hazard analysis in cooperation with the subcontractors and engineers to ensure every possible risk was addressed throughout the entire construction process. Dan Vickers, Vice President of Howell, adds: “Perhaps the most significant decision we made was to fabricate the tapered poles in Mississippi in one piece and ship them to the site ready to install, versus field assembling them in three pieces on site.” Howell utilized a highly specialized over-the-road rig, capable of carrying a 150-foot long, 6' diameter pole weighing 48,000 pounds, in one piece. “Howell has enjoyed being part of this exciting collaboration with Shea Properties and designer Humphries Poli Architects,” says Vickers. “We're thrilled to be part of such a solid team, working together to build a project that will permanently transform the Highlands Ranch Community.” Please contact us at Howell Construction if we can help you with your next project, 303-696-5800, www.howelldenver.com