This project is the fourth design-build project in the city of Denver’s history, and the third design-build project for which SEMA was selected as design-build contractor by the Denver Office of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI). The project’s combined elements of storm drainage and park amenities required special design attention in terms of public safety and the needs of the city’s maintenance teams. In addition to installing extensive drainage and roadway improvements, the project included state-of-the-art neighborhood amenities and Denver’s first shared street concept.  

The project created a greenway along 39th Avenue that collects and conveys floodwater through an open channel to the outfall at Globeville Landing Park. Crews installed extensive drainage and roadway improvements along with innovative features that included children’s play zones and a plaza, classrooms, community gardens, shade structures and bouldering elements. 

Photo courtesy SEMA Construction

In addition, the work included design and construction of a detention basin within the Park Hill Golf Course, connected by a storm-drainage system from the Holly Pond. That included utility relocations, jacking of pipes under the Regional Transportation District and Union Pacific Railroad tracks, landscaping, drainage system infrastructure improvements and water-quality enhancements.

Photo courtesy SEMA Construction

The project’s greatest challenge centered around a major change to its central vision that occurred 12 months after construction of the utility and drainage tasks had started. 

After submission of documents for the 90% design stage, the design-build team and DOTI decided that part of the plan for Franklin to Williams streets needed to change. During a three-month pause, the entire project team worked to incorporate changes to the retaining walls and layout of the greenway without delaying the overall project completion date. 

Photo courtesy SEMA Construction

Without the use of design-build, such a sweeping change to the overall vision would not have been possible during construction of one of Denver’s most complex drainage projects.