Capping a yearlong effort to ensure efficiency and sustainability in planning, construction and operation, Alta Aspen Grove apartment community received LEED-Silver certification during a ceremony in early September. Photo by Elevate Photograhy, courtesy of Wood Partners High-end amenities include double-sided gas fireplaces in select homes, nine-ft ceilings and crown molding, walk-in closets and granite counter tops. The 280-unit luxury apartment complex officially opened its doors in mid-June in Littleton, Colo., just west of Denver.Located on 17.5 acres at 7317 South Platte River Parkway, Alta Aspen Grove is adjacent to a nature preserve, a bicycle greenway path and a light rail
The value of new construction starts dropped 10% in July to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $394.7 billion, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Cos. The decline followed a 15% gain in June and returned total construction to the lower end of its recent range. The nonbuilding construction sector, comprised of public works and electric utilities, fell back after a robust June that had been lifted by the start of several large transmission line and power plant projects. Nonresidential building also slipped back after its improved pace in June.On the plus side, residential building in July
The High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE), a government-owned business within the Colorado Dept. of Transportation, has received an unsolicited proposal for a public-private partnership to improve the I-70 west mountain corridor. The proposal has been submitted by Parsons, a Pasadena, Calif.-based international design, engineering and construction company. The proposed development plan identifies a phased program of transportation infrastructure improvements on Interstate 70 between C-470 and Silverthorne initially and extending to Eagle in the future. The proposal does not preclude improvements identified in the I-70 west mountain corridor Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision., according to CDOT.Parson’s proposal includes "an
SnapShot August 29, 2011 Submitted By: Jackie Shumaker Denver Work continues on Denver’s $30-million Clyfford Still Museum. “Each construction site is a symphony of texture and patterns,” explains photographer Jackie Shumaker. “Among the chaos, I quickly zoom in on the simplicity of those elements to craft bold images.” The worker in the photo is applying ChemRex Concrete Floor Primer, a BASF product that manages moisture-vapor emissions in concrete slabs. Photographer: Jackie Shumaker
On The Scene August 29, 2011 U.S. Dept. of Housing Residents of Denver�s Lincoln Park neighborhood celebrated earlier this summer after the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development awarded $22 million in HOPE VI grant funding to the Denver Housing Authority to revitalize South Lincoln’s public housing. The first phase will be completed in December, but the new grant allows DHA to move forward with design and construction of future phases. Above, Sen. Michael Bennet (left) and DHA Executive Director Ismael Guerrero (right) accept the HOPE VI check from Rick Garcia, HUD regional administrator (center). At left, designers from
Following a drop of almost a full point in June, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) fell again by more than a point in July. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine- to 12-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects reported the July ABI score was 45.1—the steepest decline in billings since February 2010— after a reading of 46.3 the previous month. This score reflects a continued decrease in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings).The new projects inquiry index
The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District in Denver broke ground for its new $475-million Northern Treatment Plant on Aug. 17 at the new plant site north of Brighton, Colo. Courtesy of Metro Wastewater District Groundbreaking for the new $475-million Northern Treatment Plant took place on August 17. The NTP marks the first satellite treatment facility the Metro District has undertaken, coinciding with its 50th anniversary. “The NTP is Metro’s logical next step in its 50 years of progress. The facility is needed to support communities in the northern metropolitan region because existing facilities will soon reach their capacity,” said Metro District Manager
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index®, which had declined in June, improved slightly in July. The index now stands at 59.5 (1985=100), up from 57.6 in June. The Present Situation Index decreased to 35.7 from 36.6. The Expectations Index rose to 75.4 from 71.6 last month. The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey®, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by The Nielsen Co., a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for July’s preliminary results was July 14.“Consumer confidence posted a modest gain in July, the result
Construction employment inched up by 8,000 jobs to a 15-month high in July but remained far below the peak set in early 2006, according to an analysis of new federal employment data released recently by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said a grim outlook for public-sector construction activity could act as a drag on expanding private-sector construction. They urged lawmakers to pass adequate long-term funding for public projects, without unnecessary strings attached.The industry unemployment rate fell from 17.3% a year earlier to 13.6% in July 2011, and the number of unemployed people who previously worked in construction
Construction spending edged up 0.2% in June as increases in private nonresidential construction outweighed continuing declines in private residential and public construction spending, the Associated General Contractors of America reported earlier this week in an analysis of new Census Bureau data. The construction trade association’s chief economist, Ken Simonson, predicted further imbalances in spending, with further cuts in public spending likely to offset most or all of the gains in private investment. “Private nonresidential construction is rebounding, thanks to renewed investments in power, manufacturing and warehousing and distribution facilities,” Simonson said. “A small rise in homebuilding also helped overall spending