Construction on Aspen Valley Hospital's new obstetrics department is under way.

The Weitz Co.'s Rocky Mountain Region division, based in Denver, is the general contractor for the project, which is scheduled for completion next summer. The architectural firm is Heery-HLM Design, also of Denver. DHM Design of Carbondale is consulting on the landscape architecture.

The project includes construction of five single-occupancy labor, delivery and recovery rooms with therapeutic whirlpool tubs; four single-occupancy postpartum rooms; an antepartum room for patients under observation before active labor begins; a family waiting area; and a large, centrally located nursery with an isolation area.

Construction starts with a 5,800-sq-ft expansion adjacent to the current obstetrics unit on the north side of the building. After the expansion is complete, department functions will move into the new facility and the existing unit will be renovated.

Construction was completed earlier this year on the $1.2-million Clear Creek-Gilpin County Animal Shelter.

Named “Charlie's Place” for the pet of one of the shelter's most significant donors, Helen Buck, the 5,600-sq-ft facility contains separate cat and dog areas, and space for veterinary services and condos where potential pet owners can get to know the animals they're interested in adopting.

The building was constructed with concrete masonry exterior bearing walls and a wood-frame roof system with a standing-seam metal roof.

The project was designed by Blue Sky Architecture of Beverly, Mass. MW Golden Constructors was the general contractor.

Nearly 150 people gathered in early June for the grand opening of the Aurora Housing Authority's Plaza Town Homes at Macon and Moline streets in Aurora.

Parikh Stevens Architects of Denver and BC Builders LLC of Centennial designed and built the 30-unit, two-story development. It features townhouse-style dwellings that offer one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom options, each of which includes washers and dryers.

Ten units were set aside for families participating in the Families in Transition, an Aurora Housing Corp. program that helps homeless families. The remaining units will be available for households at or below 60% of the area median income.

The 93,600-sq-ft, six-story Iris and Michael Smith Clinics and Laboratories addition was completed last month at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver.

The $24-million project will expand the campus’ clinical, rehabilitation and diagnostic imaging services, as well as accommodate three floors of new research space.

Davis Partnership of Denver designed the project, which was built by The Weitz Co.

The project also created a gateway into the campus from Colfax onto the new private drive. The exterior is comprised of two-tone brick masonry and complementary cultured stone masonry. The glazing system includes both large-scale curtain wall openings and punched openings to reflect the duality of the institution.

Hyder Construction Inc. is the construction manager/general contractor for the 105,542-sq-ft lodge, which will consist of new base area facilities and residential development at Peak 7 on Breckenridge Mountain.

The lodge will feature 46 ski-in/ski-out condominiums and 20,800 sq ft of underground parking. Construction of the five-story building is scheduled for completion in September 2008.

An 8,000-sq-ft renovation of the unfinished lower level of Castle Rock Police Department was completed earlier this year.

MW Golden Constructors was the general contractor for the $236,000 project, designed by Fennell Group, the architect for the original building.

The work included the relocation of the men’s and women’s locker rooms to a new location adjacent to the weight training room, allowing the locker rooms to double in size. In the areas vacated by moving the locker rooms, two new offices were created, along with an enlarged break room. Three additional offices were also built from former storage space.

MW Golden Constructors has also completed the 3,500-sq-ft remodel of the Seasons Buffet at the Lodge Casino in Black Hawk. It involved gutting the existent eatery floor to ceiling and replacing it with all new finishes. The exhaust hood ductwork penetrates two floors to reach the mechanical penthouse and had to be encased in a continuous, fire-rated enclosure.

Krische Construction of Longmont was selected by Flatirons Village to remodel the historic Lotus building at 900 28th St. in Boulder. Work on the building, which will be remodeled for use as office and retail space, began in June and is expected to finish in November.

The architect for the $1.4-million project is Left Hand Design Group of Boulder.

Adolfson & Peterson Construction of Aurora is the construction manager/general contractor for the Bud Werner Memorial Library expansion and renovation project in Steamboat Springs.

The $10-million project consists of renovating the existing library and adding an additional 26,000 sq ft. Construction started in July and will finish in September 2008.

JE Dunn Construction has begun work on the Marian House Soup Kitchen, a Colorado Springs organization that provides services to help people help themselves out of the poverty cycle.

The project consists of the addition of a 15,700-sq-ft dining facility and 2,700-sq-ft office, plus a 6,200-sq-ft remodel.

The two-phase project will also include the construction of a new facility, renovation of the existing structure and demolition of an existing house to create a new entrance.

Designed by Charles L.T. Smith & Associates, the new dining hall and kitchen will accommodate 150 to 175 people while allowing the volunteer staff to work more safely and efficiently. It’s scheduled for completion in August 2008.