The renovated 180,000-sq-ft Cesar Chavez Memorial Building, located at the edge of the Golden Triangle neighborhood near downtown Denver, has been awarded LEED-Gold certification as a result of the $42.7-million modernization project completed last year. The project team was initially targeting LEED Silver. Photo by Fred Fuhrmeister, Time Frame Photography The Chavez Building no longer sits in isolation at the end of the city block but rather serves as a gateway into Denvers Civic and Justice Center and the Golden Triangle neighborhood. Photo by Fred Fuhrmeister, Time Frame Photography The project created a new state-of-the-art building exterior, an aluminum-and-glass curtain
The unemployment rate for construction workers fell to the lowest July level in five years, even though employment has stagnated in the past four months, according to a recent analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. “Although the unemployment rate for experienced construction workers came down to 9.1% in July, many of those workers have left the industry for other jobs, school or training programs, or retirement,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “While the industry has added workers in the past year, employment growth has been negligible recently.”The unemployment rate for workers who
The second phase of the new Castle Rock Adventist hospital opened in Castle Rock, Colo., in early August. The four-story, 219,000-sq-ft building reflects the hospital’s holistic, whole-person approach to health care and wellness. Photo courtesy of HuntonBrady Architects The four-story, 219,000-sq-ft building reflects the hospitals holistic, whole-person approach to health care and wellness. It was planned with evidence-based architectural details. Evidence-based health-care design recognizes the importance in the healing process of patient safety, patient outcomes, the staff environment, infection control, noise attenuation, daylight, views of nature, art and gardens.Castle Rock Adventist is the first hospital designed by HuntonBrady Architects to
Total construction spending cooled in June as residential building hit the pause button, while private nonresidential and public construction also declined, according to a recent analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. “New single-family and multifamily construction both had rare slowdowns in June, while private nonresidential construction remained stuck in neutral as it has all year and the long slump in public construction worsened,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “For the rest of 2013, private construction appears likely to grow again but public spending is showing no signs of a recovery.”Construction put
The Regional Transportation District and northwest metro area communities took a major step forward in the Northwest Area Mobility Study at the end of July. The group agreed to focus the study on a specific set of transit alternatives that could bring commuter rail and/or other transit improvements to northwest communities sooner than current projections for when RTD can complete the Northwest Rail Line to Longmont. The alternatives include options for phasing construction of the 41-mile Northwest Rail corridor in segments, options to determine whether extending the North Metro commuter rail line to Longmont is better than serving Longmont via
After more than three months of closing eastbound and westbound I-70 for up to 30 minutes at a time, the Colorado Dept. of Transportation has completed blasting operations in the eastbound Twin Tunnel near Idaho Springs. The Twin Tunnels project is one of the first projects under way to improve the safety and mobility along the I-70 mountain corridor. The project includes adding one eastbound lane between East Idaho Springs and U.S. 6 and expanding the eastbound bore of the Twin Tunnels. An estimated 19,700 cu yd of rock has been removed from the 635-ft-long tunnel. Blasting operations began on
The University of Utah broke ground in June on its cutting-edge College of Law building, which will facilitate new approaches to legal education based on more hands-on learning and skills training. “With this new building, the College of Law will advance its mission to establish a ‘teaching hospital for law’—an innovative vision for the future of legal education,” said University of Utah President David W. Pershing. “Expanded and improved facilities will enable a variety of educational tracks aimed at improving the human condition, including global justice and the evolving field of biolaw.” The facility will feature a library integrated throughout
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved in June, pulled back slightly in July. The index now stands at 80.3 (1985=100), down from 82.1 in June. The Present Situation Index increased to 73.6 from 68.7. The Expectations Index decreased to 84.7 from 91.1 last month. Consumers’ appraisal of current conditions continues to improve. Those stating business conditions are “good” increased to 20.9% from 19.4%, while those stating business conditions are “bad” decreased to 24.5% from 24.9%. Consumers’ assessment of the job market was also more positive.Those claiming jobs are “plentiful” increased to 12.2% from 11.3%, while those claiming
Construction employment increased in 191 out of 339 metropolitan areas between June 2012 and June 2013, declined in 97 and was flat in 51, according to an analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials welcomed the construction employment gains but cautioned that demand remained spotty amid continued efforts to cut federal investments in vital infrastructure projects, including for clean water systems.“Although construction activity remains extremely spotty, with strong residential activity offsetting lackluster private nonresidential investment and shrinking public construction spending, workers are being hired in more and more metro areas,” said
The National Asphalt Pavement Association has named Denver’s Brannan Cos. a finalist for a 2012 Asphalt Operations Safety Innovation Award. The company was recognized July 15 at a ceremony during the association’s midyear meeting in Boston. Photo courtesy of Brannan Cos. Brannan designed and installed a new safety mirror to help drivers see directly in front of large trucks, particularly tractor trailer and tandem vehicles. The award recognizes companies that develop innovative ideas or achieve practical outcomes leading to improved worker safety in a roadway, plant site or quarry, and whose safety practices go above and beyond normal safety practices.Brannan
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