Colorado Real Estate Journal - May 4, 2016
The Regional Transportation District board of directors this month awarded a $26 million contract to Mortenson Construction for the Civic Center Station Renovation project. Civic Center Station serves as one of RTD’s busiest regional bus transit centers, serving 18 routes and seeing an average of 15,000 passengers daily. The station also serves as the end point for the 16th Street free MallRide and the Free MetroRide. “This is certainly a high-traffic and tight urban site with a lot of visibility,” said Dave Espinosa, senior project manager for Mortenson. “In addition to the challenges at the station, we will also be working next to an operational high-rise building with multiple tenants.” “Mortenson is working closely with RTD and the many other neighbors and stakeholders to implement a detailed coordination plan. Upcoming activities such as the demolition and other critical milestones related to the renovation will be clearly outlined and communicated so there are no surprises.” The building design includes nine bus bays, a glass-enclosed terminal building, a bus concourse rebuild, a bus ramp extension connecting Broadway to Lincoln, an open view from 16th Street Mall to the state Capitol building and a building structure that is easier to maintain and repair long term. In addition, the new design provides a more open and welcoming environment and preserves a land parcel for future development opportunities. “Civic Center Station has been a vital transit element of downtown Denver for over 30 years and is in need of renovations,” said Tom Tobiassen, RTD board chairman. “Once this project is complete, it will be a state-of-the-art transit hub to complement Union Station that will provide improved connections and convenience for our passengers.” Perkins Eastman is the design architect and SEH is the architect of record for the project. Plans for the Civic Center Station renovation began in 2011, with a report by Merrick & Co. that surveyed the facility and made recommendations. During that process, it was determined that the cost for repairing and keeping the same design were comparable to redesigning and building a new facility. Construction is expected to begin this summer and will take approximately 12 months to be completed.