Weitz Completes First Phase of Snowmass Base Village/Colorado Springs Opens First Private-Sector LEED Gold Building

Phase One of Snowmass Base Village Complete

In January The Weitz Co. of Denver completed construction on the first phase of the Snowmass Base Village master plan—featuring luxury condominiums, retail space, conference space, a children’s center and a 600-car parking structure, totaling more than 573,000 sq ft.

In March 2007, Related WestPac, a joint venture partnership between Related Cos. and West Pac Investments Colorado, began the redevelopment of the 80-acre, master-planned Snowmass Base Village, the largest project in Pitkin County history.

The purpose of the first phase was to bring fresh vision to the 1-million-sq-ft, town-approved development, according to officials at Related WestPac.

Hayden Lodge, a new 25,000-sq-ft condominium complex; and the Tree House, a state-of-the-art children’s center; were the first projects of phase one to complete in the fall. Capital Peak Lodge A, which includes conference space and an arts and entertainment facility, opened in January. The remaining structures were completed in November, in time for the 2008-09 ski season.

The project’s designers include Cottle, Carr, Yaw Architects of Basalt; OZ Architecture of Denver; and 4240 Architecture of Denver.

Construction Complete on Patriot Park Building

Maryland-based Corporate Office Properties Trust opened Colorado Springs’ first private-sector LEED Gold-certified office building in December at 655 Space Center Dr.

Patriot Park Building 6, a $14-million, 104,000-sq-ft office building, was designed green as an answer to Gov. Bill Ritter’s vision for the state to become the center of the 21st Century new-energy economy, according to officials at COPT.

Colorado Springs-based Bryan Construction worked closely with Yergensen Obering & Whittaker Architects of Colorado Springs and their consultants in developing an attractive, energy-efficient and sustainable hybrid building. From start-to-finish, Bryan worked with the design team in maintaining close adherence to LEED guidelines during every phase of construction, including the documentation required for LEED Gold certification.

Adams 50 Elementary Opens

Adolfson & Peterson Construction of Aurora recently completed Adams County School District 50’s Josephine Hodgkins Elementary School, the first new building in the district in 36 years.

The school has sustainable features such as a geothermal field for the heating and cooling system, a cooling tower for warm months and heat exchangers for cooler months. The project was completed on time and under budget.

1900 16th St. Tops Out

Saunders Construction Inc., a Colorado-based, full-service construction manager and general contractor, topped out its 1900 Sixteenth St. project in December.

1900 Sixteenth St. is an 18-story office building located directly across from Denver Union Station in Lower Downtown. Slated for completion in September, 1900 Sixteenth St. is one of Denver’s tallest buildings, at 275 ft.

With the last structural-steal beam in place, Saunders will focus its efforts on installing the mechanical systems, along with streamlining the building’s exterior facade. The finished project will include approximately 395,000 sq ft of prime office and retail space and roughly 1,200 parking spaces.

1900 Sixteenth St. holds a pre-Gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Saunders has five LEED-certified projects along the Front Range, and more than 10 additional projects in the design phase, under construction or under certification review.

Fort Collins Building Its First Green Library

Heath Construction is building Fort Collins’ third branch library—a 17,500-sq-ft facility that will also be the city’s first LEED-certified library.

Library officials estimate the final cost for Council Tree Library, including materials, furnishings and cost of the building core, will be $6.6 million. Heath’s construction costs total $1.6 million.

The new branch library is taking shape on the second floor of a retail building located in the Front Range Village shopping center on the northwest corner of Ziegler and Harmony roads.

It will include a large meeting room, several study rooms and an open floor plan designed to accommodate the changing needs of a family-oriented facility.

The library, scheduled for completion early this year, is designed to meet or exceed the city’s goal for a LEED Gold-certified library.

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