RidgeGate Plan Approved/MLK Boulevard to Receive Makeover/Aurora Parks Projects Begin

The city of Lone Tree gave the go-ahead for RidgeGate's West Village parks, trails and open space master plan, which calls for developing 1,000-plus acres into an integrated system of parks, trails, preserved and enhanced habitats and open space.

Lone Tree OK's RidgeGate's Open Space Master Plan

The city of Lone Tree has approved RidgeGate's West Village parks, trails and open space master plan.

The plan calls for developing more than 1,000 acres - or 30 percent of RidgeGate - into an integrated system of parks, trails, preserved and enhanced habitats and open space that link to existing and planned systems both east and west with connections to Chatfield Reservoir and the Cherry Creek trail system and reservoir. The trail system will be the final piece to connect the entire region.

RidgeGate developed an environmentally sensitive plan to ensure that the community integrates and transitions with the property's natural features - such as its prominent topography, riparian corridors, plant and animal life and scenic vistas.

RidgeGate is a 3,500-acre, mixed-use, master-planned community nestled among the city's bluffs. The community is designed to offer solid infrastructure and the culture, connectivity and conveniences of urban living.

W.E. O'Neil Building Outdoor World

Bass Pro Shops has selected W.E. O'Neil Construction Co. to build its new Outdoor World sporting goods store at the Northfield at Stapleton retail shopping center in Denver.

Groundbreaking was held earlier this year on the $20 million project - the third new store O'Neil has built for Bass Pro Shops. It's scheduled for completion in time for the 2005 holiday shopping season.

The 180,000-sq-ft store will consist of tilt-up panels and a timber clad-steel frame structure with a slab on grade. The project will require extensive landscaping with water features, a fire ring and pavilions, as well as a large parking field, outside boat display and storage areas.

Designed by Butler Rosenbury & Partners Architects of Springfield, Mo., the flagship store will feature a multi-story log and stone lodge entrance with clerestory, wood flooring, pop-up roof, 50,000-gal. aquarium, kids' laser gun arcade, live fire archery range, interior tree groves, mezzanine sales floor, a large taxidermy display and a full-service restaurant.

Boulevard Project Honors Martin Luther King Jr.

Construction began in February on a nine-month redesign of the medians along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Denver that is meant to bring aesthetic unity to the communities bordering the street.

The improvements include sandstone neighborhood monuments, decorative raised planters filled with perennials and low-shrubs; deciduous and evergreen tree plantings; and irrigation to support the new landscape.

The median planting design consists of clusters of deciduous, evergreen and ornamental trees repeated inconsistently along the length of the boulevard. The arrangement of the clusters is in the "prairie" or "naturalesque" style developed by landscape architect Jens Jensen in the midwestern United States.

Jensen's placement of trees is similar to the patterns used in several other Denver parks and parkways designed by local landscape architect S.R. DeBoer.

Construction Under Way on Park Projects in Aurora

Aurora residents will have a new place to play this spring with the completion of Great Plains, a 45-acre park located at the eastern edge of the Plains Conservation Center.

Golden Triangle Construction began work on the $1.6 million project in December. Other team members include DHM Design and city of Aurora landscape architect Lance Henkel, also serving as project manager.

The city will also begin renovations this year on General's Park, an historic park adjacent to the Fitzsimons campus. Improvements there include a large-scale rental picnic shelter; a new playground; a relocated entry off Quentin; open grassy areas for Frisbee and volleyball; and concrete walkways looping through the park that connect all of the features.

The $1.5 million project will go to bid in late spring and is scheduled for completion in 2006. The landscape architect/designer is Brook Bell, a senior landscape architect for the city of Aurora. Mundus Bishop Design is the prime consultant for construction documentation.

Shea and Peregrine to Develop Mixed-Use Project

Shea Properties and Peregrine Group Developers have teamed up to turn a 68-acre infill site in Arvada into a mixed-use, transit-oriented development.

The Arvada Ridge project, located at the northwest corner of West 50th Avenue and Kipling Street, will feature a 176,000-sq-ft SuperTarget that will open by October; 45,000 sq ft of inline retail space; five retail pad sites; 48,000 sq ft of office and industrial space; and a 4.9-acre transit-oriented development site.

Plans also call for 300 to 600 residential units on 25 acres and a light-rail station.

JHL on Track to Finish Eaglecrest High School

JHL Constructors of Centennial is scheduled to finish the $3.2 million, 20,000-sq-ft addition for the Cherry Creek School District in July.

Designed by H+L Architecture, the addition includes new lecture hall space, 12 new classrooms, several teachers' offices, restrooms and a new entrance and foyer.

The project is the second addition JHL has done at Eaglecrest. The first was a $1.5 million, 6,000-sq-ft, two-phase addition completed in August 2002.

More Retailers Open at Stapleton's East 29th Avenue Town Center

The nation's largest urban infill development continues to evolve as a second round of retailers have opened their doors at the East 29th Avenue Town Center at Stapleton.

Anthony's Pizza & Pasta, Einstein Bros. Café, The Grape Leaf wine and spirits, Miss Tallulah's gift shop and UROK clothing and accessories are doing business at the 15-acre center, now featuring 23 shops, eateries and other services containing 75,000 sq ft of retail space.

Stapleton's 4,700 acres - or 7.5 sq miles - represents the nation's largest urban redevelopment.

White Begins Work on Historic Denver Mountain Project

White Construction Group was commissioned this winter as the general contractor for structural repairs to two historic Denver Mountain Park properties in Evergreen - Pahaska Teepee and Chief Hosa Lodge.

The repairs involve structural reinforcement utilizing segments of structural steel pipe bolted to the existing log roof system. The structural steel pipe segments will be of similar diameter and fit tightly to the reinforced logs, minimizing visual impact.

Both buildings will remain in use during the $512,226 project.

Project partners include the owner, the city and county of Denver's Parks and Recreation Department and the architect, Andrews & Anderson Architects P.C.

White Construction is also at work on the $1.3 million Founders Village Pool and Community Center project, scheduled for completion by July. Construction involves demolishing the existing pool and bathhouse and building a 6,000-sq-ft community center and two new pools.

Project partners include the Founders Village Homeowners Association and Jeff Swanson & Associates Architects P.C.

Gerald H. Phipps Finishes Third Green Building Project

Gerald H. Phipps Inc. complete its third LEED-accredited building this spring - the Colorado Springs Utility Laboratory Facility, a 48,000-sq-ft laboratory facility that is 75 percent lab and 25 percent office space.

MW Golden Finishes Lone Tree Maintenance Facility

MW Golden Constructors of Castle Rock completed the city of Lone Tree's new Maintenance Facility on West Parker Road in Douglas County.

The 7,500-sq-ft, 40-ft-tall facility features office space; storage, including a mezzanine; and 10 bays with an ice slicer area. The facility also includes three outside material storage bins.

The Lone Tree Maintenance Facility uses a significant amount of polycarbonate glazing that makes this pre-engineered structure, with its exterior rough-sawn cedar accents, unique. The design was done by Chad Cox of klipp.

J.E. Dunn, Bollar Cruz Complete New Church

J.E. Dunn Construction and Bollar Cruz Architects participated in the dedication of the new Our Lady of the Pines Church in Colorado Springs.

The 13,665-sq-ft church was constructed just west of the existing one. It features an 8,490-sq-ft sanctuary and nave that accommodates seating for approximately 680 in pews and has the largest baptistery in Colorado Springs.

Other highlights include a tongue-and-groove Douglas fir wood ceiling, 32-channel soundboard and 12-channel lighting dimmer controls. The narthex consists of 1,975 sq ft with 3,200 sq ft designed for administration and support spaces.

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