Gold:
Denver Botanic Gardens Capital Improvement Projects Submitted by GH Phipps Construction Cos.
The Denver Botanic Gardens Conservatory is one of Denver’s most recognizable landmarks. Since its dedication in 1966, interest in the attraction has grown considerably, which led to parking congestion in the surrounding neighborhoods. For many decades, plans were explored and developed to approve the facility and alleviate parking congestion, but it wasn’t until 2007 when Denver voters approved the Better Denver Bond program that several of the key Botanic Gardens projects received enough funds for completion.
The Denver Botanic Gardens Improvement Projects include a new three-level, 316-space parking structure with a green roof and “living walls” to replace the surface parking lot between York and Josephine streets; a new 12-bay greenhouse complex with visitor experience and a connection to the landmark conservatory; a new visitors center, welcome garden and gift shop.
The project also included water features, rock walls, irrigation improvements, a large children’s garden, the relocation of the Japanese Guild shelter/pavilion and installation of the “Moore in the Gardens” exhibit—all completed while the facility was occupied and operating.
Denver
$35 million
Owner: Denver Botanic Gardens
Contractor: GH Phipps Construction Cos.
Architect: David Owen Tryba Architects
Engineers: Carroll & Lange-Manhard, Martin/Martin Inc., MKK Consulting Engineers Inc.
Subcontractors: IES, Braconier Plumbing & Heating, Murphy Mechanical, Frontier Fire Protection, Lightning Ventures, Belair Excavation, Nexus Corp., Berich Masonry
Start: Oct. 2008 Finish: Aug. 2010
Silver:
Phipps Gallery
Submitted by Haselden Construction
The third-floor Phipps Gallery at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science was completely gutted and rebuilt to provide visitors a more comfortable experience in the gallery and a more stable environment for the fragile artifacts that travel with the world’s leading temporary exhibitions.
The project included improvements to climate control and upgrades to the vapor barrier surrounding the gallery that raised the space to contemporary museum standards. The project also included the addition of 7,600 sq ft of floor space outside the gallery, a faster elevator and two new staircases on the south side of the building.
The Phipps Gallery renovation, which has earned LEED-Gold certification, took just 17 weeks.
Denver
$9.1 million
Owner: Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Contractor: Haselden Construction
Architect: klipp
Engineers: Martin/Martin Inc., BCER Engineering
Among the Subcontractors: Zimkor LLC, O’Brien Plastering Co., Marquez Constructors, Simplex Grinnell, Encore Electric, LEI Cos.
Start: April 2009 Finish: Sept. 2009
