Denver Office Planned for Platinum Certification

DENVER – The developers of a $120 million downtown office building are applying for LEED Platinum certification.
 
If approved, the 22-story, 545,000-square-foot building owned by Westfield Co. Inc. would become the tallest, greenest office building to open in downtown Denver in 20 years, according to reports. Final LEED certification will be determined upon project completion, which is scheduled for April.

Construction began on the mixed-use office building in May 2008 and the building’s final structural beam was put into place September 2009. Designed by RNL architects of Denver and built by Minneapolis-headquartered Mortenson Construction, the building will primarily house Xcel Energy when complete.

 
Xcel Energy, the state’s largest utility company, plans to move its 1,300 employees into the building in June. The company’s current headquarters is located across the street.
 
“All the documentation was submitted to the USGC during the design phase, verses waiting until the end of the job,” says John McCorkle, senior project manager with Mortenson Construction. “We will submit a few pieces of information on construction waste and the commissioning will be completed before the building opens in April. We anticipate a formal LEED Platinum certification in mid-May.”
 
The building is expected to use 30 percent less energy compared to traditional, downtown Denver office buildings. Energy-efficient features include floor-to-ceiling high-performance windows that provide 92 percent of the building’s interior spaces with natural light and unobstructed mountain views.
 
The building’s under-floor air distribution system provides 38 percent more fresh air than traditional overhead systems and allows for individually controlled indoor airflow, according to planners. Efficient water systems, including waterless urinals and dual flush water closets, are estimated to provide a 44 percent savings in water consumption. Additionally, the building was constructed of 20 percent recycled materials, while 20 percent of building supplies were obtained from local sources.
 
The office’s downtown location is easily accessible to bicyclists and public transportation, providing a savings of emissions and transit time produced by urban commuters. A 17,000-square-foot landscaped terrace and a covered parking facility work to reduce the heat-island effect.
 
In addition to providing an ideal open space for tenants and special events, the terrace uses native vegetation. The building developers have contracted with Xcel Energy to provide 35 percent of the office’s core and shell power through WindSource, the company’s wind energy program.
Key contributors to the project include Harmon, Inc. of Denver, Wausau Window and Wall Systems, Tubelite, Inc., Linetec, and Viracon.