Pahl Architecture Celebrates 50 Years/Metro State Selects Team for Hotel Learning Center/Polsinelli Shughart Moves to LoDo

Pahl Architecture Celebrates 50 Years in Business

Family-owned Pahl Architecture, led by brothers Robert and Joseph M. Pahl, is celebrating its golden anniversary. Founded by the Pahls’ father, Joseph W. Pahl, in 1959, the firm has cultivated an interest in serving people and architecture old and new, all the while growing its staff and client base.

It has also changed its name more than a couple of times.

The firm originally concentrated on state and federal government projects, including the Colorado State Capitol building and numerous fire stations for the city of Denver. The addition of Joseph Pahl’s sons brought on several new niche markets, including historic preservation, hospitality, academic facilities and commercial environments.

In 1984, Joseph W. Pahl sold the firm, known then as Pahl-Pahl-Pahl Architects/Planners, to his two sons. In 2006 the company rebranded to symbolize a new era as Pahl Architecture.

Metro State Selects Building Team For Auraria Hotel Learning Center

Metropolitan State College of Denver has selected the team that will design, develop, build and run the day-to-day operations of a new hotel on campus, accompanied by a hotel learning center to train Metro State students in hotel management.

The team is comprised of eight firms: Mortenson Construction & Development, Sage Hospitality, RNL, JG Johnson Architects, studioINSITE, Swerdling & Associates, RBC and HVS. The team was selected from among 10 submittals for the request for proposal for the hotel learning center.

The Hotel and Hotel Learning Center, scheduled to open in 2012, will be located on the Auraria Campus along Speer Boulevard between Auraria Parkway and Larimer Street. The hotel will feature approximately 180 hotel rooms, 21,000 sq ft of conference space and 21,000 sq ft of academic space.

Both elements of the project are estimated to cost $40 million to build. Funds for the hotel will be raised through a public-private partnership, while donations will be sought for the hotel learning center.

Hillcrest Glass Celebrates 40 Years

Hillcrest Glass of Longmont is celebrating its 40th anniversary of providing glass and glazing services to Colorado’s Front Range. Hillcrest Glass has been locally owned and operated since its founding in 1969.

The commercial division provides glass for new construction, tenant finishes, commercial entrances and specialty glass applications. The residential division provides custom shower enclosures, mirrors, screens, replacement glass and maintenance services for windows and doors.

Recent projects Hillcrest Glass has supplied glass for include: Crestview Elementary, Boulder; Foothills Elementary, Boulder; Barnes and Noble, Boulder; Boulder Country Club renovation; and the pedestrian bridge over Highway 36 at McCaslin.

Polsinelli Shughart Moves Office To Lower Downtown Denver

The Denver office of national law firm Polsinelli Shughart PC relocated in October to a new building in Denver’s Lower Downtown.

The firm’s new space at 1515 Wynkoop St. will accommodate the office’s 25 attorneys and other staff members, as well as its plans for future expansion. Polsinelli Shughart moved from its former offices in Independence Plaza on 17th Street, where it served clients for the past 11 years.

Polsinelli Shughart signed a 12-year lease with developer Hines Interests LP for 38,000 sq ft on the sixth floor of the eight-story building. The agreement includes options to lease the entire 47,000 sq ft floor and extend the lease to more than 20 years.

The new office features sustainable materials and energy-efficient electrical systems, lighting, heating, cooling and office equipment. The building has achieved LEED-Gold certification for Core & Shell, and Polsinelli Shughart is expected to apply for LEED certification for Commercial Interiors for its space in early October.

ACEC/CO Golf Tournament Funds Future Engineers

The American Council of Engineering Cos. of Colorado’s 2009 Golf Tournament held this summer at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen raised more than $8,000 for the association’s scholarship fund. This annual event is one of the primary sources for growing the scholarship fund each year.

The wining foursome from the URS Corp. team (left to right): Rick Pilgrim, Bill Ettenger, Dave Kline and Derek Brown. They were among the 112 participants in ACEC/CO’s Member/Guest Golf Tournament held at Hiwan this year. (Photo courtesy of ACEC Colorado)

Earlier this year, the council awarded $32,500 in scholarships to 11 students pursuing engineering degrees in Colorado, the largest distribution of scholarships in the council’s history. ACEC/CO also provided $1,000 in scholarships to the Colorado Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement program for disadvantaged Colorado high school students planning to study engineering.

Scholarship applications are open to engineering students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in ABET-accredited Colorado engineering programs. Students must be entering their junior, senior or fifth year in a five-year undergraduate program in fall 2010.

The deadline for 2010 scholarship applications is Feb. 5, 2010. For more information on the scholarship program, eligibility or to obtain an application,
visit www.acec-co.org.