Colorado Real Estate Journal -
CDE News Briefs
Mortenson celebrates topping out of Exempla St. Joseph
Mortenson Construction recently celebrated the completion of the concrete and steelframe construction of the Exempla St. Joseph Heritage project with a topping out ceremony.
Mortenson Construction is the builder on the $623 million, 831,000-square-foot replacement hospital in downtown Denver.
Major trade partners include US Engineering and Encore Electric. The design team includes Davis Partnership, H+L Architecture and ZGF as architects, Cator Ruma as mechanical/electrical engineer, and Martin/Martin as civil/structural engineer.
Merrick provides site development services
Merrick provided civil engineering services for A.G. Spanos Cos.’ Element 47 project at the southwest corner of Interstate 25 and 23rd Avenue in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Denver.
The project includes transforming four separate dilapidated properties into a new residential area. The project will include a high-end, four-building multifamily complex sitting on 6.4 acres and totaling 265 units.
Merrick provided design services for offsite roads and utility improvements, onsite grading and retaining wall locations, storm water drainage, underground detention and water quality vaults, interior parking lots and water/sanitary sewer utilities.
Denver sees 10 percent increase in lumber costs
According to the latest construction cost report from property and construction consultant Rider Levett Bucknall, the construction industry is recovering from the worst effects of the Great Recession and should experience modest growth throughout 2013.
RLB cites the strengthening of the Architectural Billings Index, prepared by the American Institute of Architects, as just one sign of the recovery. The index rose to 54.2 in January from a mark of 51.2 in December.
Overall construction costs in Denver increased 0.55 percent during the final quarter of 2012. While local material prices remained relatively stable compared to the previous quarter, a 10 percent increase in lumber cost was one notable exception.
Lumber costs are likely to continue to rise from their lows as the residential construction market attempts to make a recovery.
Health care continues to be a strong sector for the region, with education and commercial projects also adding to local contractors’ backlogs.
RLB also recently signed an agreement to join forces with award-winning firm Pentad Quantity Surveyors Ltd.
Through Pentad’s offices in South Africa, Mauritius, Botswana and Mozambique, RLB will offer comprehensive cost consultancy services throughout the Sub-Sahraran Africa region.
Roth Sheppard to design expansion of Room & Board
Roth Sheppard Architects was hired by Minneapolis-based Room & Board to design the expansion of its Cherry Creek store.
Room & Board first partnered with Roth Sheppard on the renovation and redesign of the retailer’s showroom at 222 Detroit St.
in 2001. Then, beginning late last year, the company tapped the firm to assist with acquisition of the adjacent property to the south. The purchase of the building at Second and Detroit was finalized Dec. 28, 2012.
“The acquisition of additional retail space will enable us to display more of our furniture and accessories in a larger inspirational environment,” said Mark Miller, Room & Board’s chief financial officer. "This will help us meet more of our customers’ needs in the Denver market.” Initially, the newly acquired building will be used to showcase Room & Board’s 2013 collection of handcrafted, Americanmade outdoor furniture. Minor cosmetic changes will be made for the temporary use of the ground level only. The company’s long-term plan includes the design and construction of a new addition, which will be accessed directly through its existing showroom.
“We're excited about designing a beautiful addition for Room & Board and working closely with Cherry Creek North and the city of Denver to assure a smooth process,” said Jeffrey Sheppard, AIA, design principal of Roth Sheppard Architects.
“We're already working closely together to further enhance one of the great retail experiences in Denver.” Timing of the expansion has yet to be determined.
Foothills Commercial works on several area retail projects
Foothills Commercial Builders is working on several retail projects, including the Root 2 Table project at East Evans Avenue and South Birch Street in Denver.
The firm is adding a commissary kitchen to a retail space.
Work also includes adding exhaust and steam hoods, new HVAC units and upgrading existing electrical. The restaurant focuses on Paleolithic diet foods.
Foothills Commercial Builders also is adding a bar to both the patio and mezzanine level of the Boulder Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant location. This is the second project Foothills has worked on with the Rio restaurant.
The firm also is working on the conversion of a former restaurant into a Supercuts near the University of Denver campus. The project includes Supercuts’ trade dress and specifications. The salon will be located at Evans and University Boulevard.
CDOT selects concessionaire for Phase II of rapid transit
The Colorado Department of Transportation and the High Performance Transportation Enterprise selected Plenary Roads Denver as the concessionaire for Phase Two of the U.S. 36 Express Lanes/Bus Rapid Transit project between 88th Street and Table Mesa, which will complete improvements to the entire 36 corridor between Denver and Boulder.
The project is CDOT’s first public-private partnership.
“We are extremely excited to have a partner on board to complete the final phase of the U.S. 36 improvements that will address the needs of this vital corridor and support continued economic growth in the area,” said Mike Cheroutes, director of the HPTE.
Phase II of the corridor includes: constructing an express lane in each direction of U.S. 36 between 88th Street and Table Mesa for bus rapid transit, highoccupancy vehicles and tolled single-cccupancy vehicles; reconstructing two general purpose lanes in each direction between 88th Street and Table Mesa; widening the highway to accommodate 12-foot-wide inside and outside shoulders; and adding bus rapid transit improvements, including new electronic display signage at stations and bus priority improvements at ramps.
The improvements also will allow buses to operate on the shoulders of U.S. 36 between interchanges to decrease bus travel time.
The concession team includes the following partners: The Plenary Group, Ames Construction Inc., Granite Construction, HDR, Transfield Services and Goldman Sachs.
The second phase of the U.S. 36 Express Lanes project is expected to begin construction in late 2013 and will be complete by late 2015.
Beaudin Ganze opens branch office in Wyoming
Beaudin Ganze Consulting Engineers Inc. opened a branch office Jackson, Wyo., to provide local area support for its clients.
“Opening a Wyoming office has been part of BGCE’s long-range strategic plan for several years,” said Denis Beaudin, principal at BGCE. “Our increased workload and client base in the state resulted in this vision becoming a reality, and we look forward to its success.”
Walker Parking completes parking structure
Walker Parking Consultants recently completed the University of Missouri’s Oak Street Parking Structure.
The lot, on the Kansas City campus, comprises a 1,488-space, six-level precast, presstressed concrete parking structure. Two pedestrian bridges connect the parking facility to adjacent facilities.
Walker Parking Consultants provided functional design/ consulting and structural engineering. The parking structure is constructed into the side of a hill, which allows vehicular entrances on both the ground and third floors. Sustainable design elements, including electric vehicle charging stations, were incorporated, while recycled content and regional materials helped to reduce the facility's carbon footprint.
The project was delivered by the design-build delivery method. Utilizing this method allowed JE Dunn Construction, BNIM Architects and Walker Parking Consultants to collaborate on the design from the beginning and the project to be delivered on time and on budget.