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/ BUILDING DIALOGUE / SEPTEMBER 2016
with the Broadway frontage and close proximity to Civic Center Park and the
city’s near constant schedule of events impacting the ability to get lane closures,
maximizing delivery windows required continual coordination with Denver’s
Public Works Right of Way Services.
“Working on tight, urban sites among many other businesses, pedestrians,
vehicle traffic and even other construction projects really magnifies the need
for attention to detail,” imparts Lulay. He notes in particular the possible disrup-
tion to surrounding entities like the Wells Fargo Center, Trinity Church, and the
historic Brown Place Hotel, directly across the street. In the case of SkyHouse,
though the purchased site had been a parking lot for the last 32 years, prior to
that it had been home to two well-known Denver hotels, which were demol-
ished in 1984. During excavation, just below the surface of the existing parking
lot, excavators encountered the site’s former remains and the team dug out rub-
ble down to 30 feet before deciding to simply drill the caissons down through
the remaining debris.
“Prior to excavation, we placed crack gauges on the Wells Fargo Center adja-
cent to our site to verify that we were not causing any damage to their structure,”
says Lulay who, along with Martin and other project leaders, met continually
with stakeholders to keep them appraised of upcoming construction activities
and coordinate beneficial scheduling. Among the other key interests, the team
was particularly concerned about disrupting guests at the Brown Palace Hotel,
kitty-corner to the site. Tactics to avoid disruptions included scheduling morn-
ing crew mustering and work to start on the side furthest from the hotel, and
using welding blankets to shield light pollution from guest room windows.
“The thing we can all be proudest of is building 26 stories from start to fin-
ish in just 18 months without sacrificing quality, cost or community interests
one bit,” shares LuLay while Martin nods in agreement. “The team concept and
commitment to Lean methodologies started with the owner and can be seen in
every aspect of design and construction,” continues Martin. The only question
now is how to build the next SkyHouse even faster.
\\
/ Built for Speed /
A view of the Brown Palace from a SkyHouse balcony.
PROJECT TEAM
DEVELOPERS:
Novare Group, Simpson Housing,
Batson-Cook Development
ARCHITECT:
Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart
& Associates Inc.
CIVIL ENGINEER:
Kimley-Horn
GENERAL CONTRACTORS:
Batson-Cook/Swinerton Joint Venture
