Many of the largest project starts in the Mountain States ran counter to national trends last year in part because the list of new projects is dominated by government work at a time when institutional building is slowing down from less public funding. In fact, more than 20 of the year’s top 25 project starts are publicly funded. Rendering by Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects, courtesy of Okland Construction The new U.S. Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City is ranked among the region's top project starts for 2011. It will contain 368,445 sq ft of space and form an integrated federal

The Denver Housing Authority celebrated the next phase of community revitalization at its Mariposa development on West 10th Avenue and Navajo Street in Denver on April 10. Photo courtesy of DHA Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette and Housing and Urban Development Administrator Rick Garcia sign a ceremonial building beam at the April 10 Mariposa Phase 2 groundbreaking in Denver. Phase 2 construction will begin immediately and is scheduled for completion next summer. Work includes major infrastructure improvements on West 10th Avenue, which will become the neighborhood’s central promenade, and a plaza for community gatherings, markets and festivals.

The Regional Transportation District broke ground on April 11 on a 1,000-space parking structure at 14th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood. The four-story structure will serve riders of the RTD FasTracks West Rail Line and the existing RTD bus system. The Lakewood-Wadsworth station is expected to be utilized by 5,530 riders on weekdays. The structure is being built by Swinerton Builders Colorado and is scheduled to open in May 2013, along with the West Rail Line.The parking structure is designed to maximize sustainable features such as low water-use landscaping, bicycle parking and provisions for future solar panels and plug-in

Western State College of Colorado in Gunnison and JE Dunn Construction recently topped out The Pinnacles student apartment complex, a 92,000-sq-ft project that will include 54 apartments and accommodate up to 226 tenants.  Rendering courtesy of Sink Combs Dethlefs Architects The 92,000-sq-ft Pinnacles project will include 54 apartments and accommodate up to 226 tenants. JE Dunn is the general contractor for the project that broke ground last summer. The $16-million project includes the demolition of outdated Coronado, Beckwith and Keating Halls and is expected to be completed before the 2012-13 school year.Two WSC representatives participating in the topping out ceremony were

Denver’s JE Dunn Construction, a commercial general contractor, recently completed two medical office buildings (Medical Plaza 1 and 2) on the St. Anthony Medical Campus in Lakewood, Colo. Combined, the Medical Plaza buildings total approximately 197,000 sq ft. Courtesy of JE Dunn Construction Medical Plaza 1 and 2 are four-story buildings totaling 96,804 sq ft and 101,581 sq ft, respectively. Adjacent to St. Anthony’s full-service hospital and Level 1 trauma center, the buildings offer a variety of outpatient, health care and other medical services. Designed by Denver’s Davis Partnership Architects PC, Medical Plaza 1 and 2 are four-story buildings totaling 96,804

Four Colorado firms were honored at the 12th annual National Construction Safety Excellence Awards (CSEA) competition was held at the AGC National Convention in Hawaii the week of March 12. Winners were announced during an awards breakfast on March 15 attended by over 900 people. AGC of Colorado was represented by four member companies, all of which won first place in their respective categories. The four companies are PCL Construction Services Inc., Calcon Constructors Inc., Sturgeon Electric Co. Inc. and L.P.R. Construction Co.In addition, AGC of America also presents a grand award that signifies the best in construction safety excellence

The American Council of Engineering Cos. of Colorado, with support of the American Public Works Association, awarded $29,000 in scholarships to 10 Colorado college students who are actively pursuing engineering degrees at Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology-accredited Colorado engineering programs. Courtesy of ACEC/CO ACEC/CO Scholarship Committee member Les Botham (left), and ACEC/CO President Eric Young (far right), congratulated 2012 ACEC/CO scholarship recipients (from left) Rachel Sobke, University of Colorado; Andrea Fasan, Colorado State University; Hannah Cooling, Colorado School of Mines; John Wolfe, Colorado State University; and Meral Sarper. At a reception honoring the scholars, ACEC/CO President Eric Young thanked

After a year of construction, Adolfson & Peterson Construction wrapped up the renovation of Aurora’s only full-service recreation center—Beck Recreation Center. A&P helped the city with its grand opening celebration week by sponsoring tours and a barbeque dinner on March 21. Aurora families celebrated for the week of March 19 through March 24 by taking advantage of several free classes and events. Courtesy of A and P A and P helped the city with its grand opening celebration week by sponsoring tours and a barbeque dinner on March 21. The overhaul of the recreation center included an addition to the

The Colorado Dept. of Transportation and its contractor, SEMA Construction, began work March 26 on a new interchange west of Parachute on I-70 at approximately Milepost 72. The new interchange will offer on- and off-ramps in both east and west directions and will utilize an existing overpass on U.S. 6. The new interchange will offer efficient, full-service traffic movements in the rapidly growing area. The interchange project involves construction of on- and off-ramps, two roundabouts on the north and south sides of the existing overpass on U.S. 6, and an asphalt overlay on U.S. 6. Several safety improvements will also

The Aurora Prairie Waters Peter D. Binney Water Purification Facility is one of the most significant construction projects and successful construction partnerships of 2011, the Associated General Contractors of America announced during its annual conference in Hawaii in mid-March. Photo courtesy of Aurora Water The treatment facility uses both natural and state-of-the art water purification techniques to treat the citys existing water rights from the South Platte River. As a result, the project’s contractor, Denver-based Western Summit Constructors Inc., was one of eight firms to receive the association’s Alliant Build America Merit Award and one of three teams to receive