Leading Denver Construction Law Firm Finalizes Kansas City Merger/Palace Celebrates Its 45th Anniversary/New Xcel Headquarters Designed to Achieve LEED Platinum

Shughart Thomson & Kilroy Merges with K.C. Firm

The proposed merger announced earlier this year between Denver construction law specialists Shughart Thomson & Kilroy and Kansas City-based Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus has been approved by both firms and will take effect in January.

The new firm name will become Polsinelli Shughart, to maintain the reputation each firm has established in Denver, the Midwest and across the country, company officials said.

Shughart Thomson & Kilroy is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Denver office, which has grown to 26 attorneys. After the merger, Polsinelli Shughart will be in the top 100 of U.S. law firms, employing approximately 480 attorneys.

Palace Construction Marks 45 Years in Business

Denver’s Palace Construction Co. Inc. celebrated its 45th anniversary this fall.

The company provides general contracting/construction management, restoration, 24-hour emergency service, and construction defect litigation support and repair services throughout Colorado.

Palace established itself as a small, family-owned insurance restoration company in 1963. As business grew, the restoration division expanded to include 24-hour emergency response, structural repairs and water mitigation services.

In 1970 Palace developed a commercial division specializing in projects for health care, senior-living/assisted-living, multifamily, offices, educational facilities, historic renovations and retail—along with numerous charity and community-service projects.

As part of it anniversary celebration, Palace unveiled its new Web site at www.palaceconst.com.

Mortenson Announces Its Annual STAR Award Winners

Mortenson Construction recently announced the recipients of the company’s second annual Star Awards. The awards recognize the company’s subcontractor partners, who have “added value to the Mortenson experience to help make the company’s projects a success.”

This year’s winners are:

• Safety: Sturgeon Electric, Henderson;

• Preconstruction: Kenny Electric, Denver;

• Quality: Powers Products, Denver;

• Innovation: LPR Construction, Loveland;

• Teamwork: Four Star Drywall, Lakewood;

• Small Business: Chapman Landscaping, Commerce City;

• Project Manager: Mike Singleton, Kenny Electric;

• Superintendent: Todd Schuster, RK Mechanical; and Joe Badaracco of Sturgeon Electric;

• Subcontractor of the Year: US Engineering, Loveland.

Xcel Regional HQ Design Will Meet LEED Platinum

Denver’s RNL has been selected by Xcel Energy to provide interior architecture design services for its new 340,000-sq-ft regional headquarters at 1800 Larimer St. in Denver.

The space is being designed to meet LEED for Commercial Interiors at the Platinum level as designated by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The new regional headquarters will consolidate Xcel Energy employees from three separate locations in the Denver area into 1800 Larimer St., which is also precertified by the USGBC to meet the LEED-Platinum level for core-and-shell buildings.

Construction of the 22-story office tower is under way by Denver’s Mortenson Construction, with an estimated completion date of spring 2010.

Haselden Increases Number of LEED-Accredited Professionals

More than 60% of Haselden Construction’s preconstruction staff is now LEED accredited, while 43% of its project managers have earned the distinction.

The Centennial-based contractor is currently working on several projects designed and built to achieve LEED-Silver, -Gold and -Platinum certifications.

Its most recent sustainable project, the Mile High Station Post Office and Parking Garage, is the first LEED-groundup structure for the city and county of Denver. The project received a LEED-Silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

During construction of the project, 68% of the construction waste was recycled, and low emission materials, including paints, adhesives, sealants, and carpet systems, were used.

The post office features a 37% savings in water usage and 30% in energy bills.