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Marian House Opens a New Kitchen, Dining Facilities in Colorado Springs
JE Dunn Construction, a commercial general contractor with offices in Colorado Springs and Denver, recently completed Phase 1 of the Marian House Soup Kitchen project, which included the construction of new kitchen and dining facilities and office and administrative areas totaling 15,725 sq ft.
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| Catholic Charities’ Marian House is a self-sufficient center that provides approximately 600 meals a day, 365 days a year. |
Photo courtesy of JE Dunn Construction
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Located directly across from the historic St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Marian House Soup Kitchen is one of the first structures most people see when entering downtown Colorado Springs. Designed by Bollar Cruz Architects of Colorado Springs, the structure features a metal roof, a brick façade and architectural features to reflect the design of St. Mary’s Cathedral.
From a functional standpoint, the new facility offers a larger dining room and more efficient kitchen that accommodates up to 175 people, and a larger basement for increased storage. The new facility addressed the charity’s need for an updated and larger facility to better serve the community with daily meals and distribution of donated items.
Consideration was also given to long-term operating costs, using two layers of ridged insulation and incorporating a roof with a high R-value for reduced energy costs.
The limited construction site was a particular challenge, said Matt Vineyard, senior project manager for JE Dunn. Although demolition of a portion of the existing structure was required to complete the new facility, the team remained sensitive to ongoing operations and the clientele.
“The Marian House Soup Kitchen serves a vital role in the downtown Colorado Springs area, and vital to the success of the project was the constant consideration given to those involved,” Vineyard added.
Catholic Charities acknowledged those involved with the project and continued its fund-raising efforts for Phase 2, which began this month. It will include demolition of the former kitchen and construction of a two-story building that will house services focused on self-sufficiency.
Catholic Charities’ Marian House is a self-sufficient center that provides approximately 600 meals a day, 365 days a year, along with information and referral services, onsite clinic services and an outreach program where donated items are distributed to those in need.
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