An innovative, multifaceted system in Adams County’s new Anythink Library District represents a radical departure from traditional libraries. Gone are the checkout counters, Dewey Decimal System, metal shelving—even the stern front-desk librarians. Wright Farms is the district’s largest library, with ample flex space, group-activity rooms, quiet-study areas and many well-placed reading nooks. Anythink evolved by recognizing the ways people learn and access information in the 21st century. Modern information processing is far less linear and more multimedia based and interactive than ever. It engages users visually, aurally and physically. The architecture, layout and built environment at Anythink libraries demonstrate these

Boulder’s Casey Middle School employs a North Face backpack of energy-saving tools that make it one of the most sustainable new schools in the state. Those include geothermal and solar power, a zero-waste cafeteria, ample use of recycled materials and a salvaged partial fa�ade from the original school that gives the new one character and a connection to its historical roots. Casey’s advisory team of designers, Boulder Valley School District officials, parents and community members began meeting in 2007 to consider options for upgrading the 1924 school. Influenced by the site’s expansive clay soils, which had caused walls to crack

Stone mantles in the lodge-like great rooms of the three recently completed residence halls at Colorado State University-Pueblo boast rock retrieved from their namesake peaks: Crestone, Culebra and Greenhorn. General contractors GH Phipps Construction Cos., Colorado Springs, and FCI Constructors, Longmont, initiated the idea and also collected the specimens. Crestone and Culebra are from the Sangre de Cristo range, while Greenhorn is from the Wet Mountains, not far from Pueblo. The innovative residences are destined for LEED-Gold certification, and each speaks to the creativity of the project planners. Conceptual design began in 2006-2007 after CSU students agreed to raise fees

After being invited in 2007 to participate in the U.S. Green Building Council’s pre-certification program for new construction, Wells Fargo spent nearly two years re-tooling the design and construction parameters for its retail banking stores to meet LEED requirements. Related Links: Springs Gets Colorado�s First LEED-Pre-certified Bank By mid-2008, Wells Fargo had been awarded pre-certified LEED-Silver designation by the USGBC based on the company’s adoption of ecofriendly design parameters. Those called for a 20% reduction in energy use and 40% reduction in water consumption, long considered pivotal benchmarks for green buildings. The bank joins more than 40 corporate members of

1800 Larimer St. is the first office tower built in Denver�s central business district in nearly 25 years and the first to achieve LEED Platinum. The 23-story building, which will be the new regional headquarters for Xcel Energy (occupying floors 3 through 16), offers 500,000 sq ft of environmentally friendly floor space. Slide Show div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Construction began in May 2008 and was virtually complete this spring. Xcel�s phased move-in from offices in three different locations will be complete by early August. �Part of the project�s sustainable, transit-oriented appeal is the connection to the Union Station

Related Links: Wells Fargo to Expand LEED Pre-certification Beyond New Construction The Bank at Briargate Crossing in Colorado Springs is Colorado’s first Wells Fargo retail-bank store pre-certified for LEED Silver. The bank’s new stores are based on a flexible design model that can be configured to blend with local architectural motifs throughout the country. Briargate Crossing’s light-harvesting system helps cut energy use by 20%. Insulation is manufactured from recycled cotton, primarily denim, and carpets and window treatments are made of 100% recycled materials. Low-VOC paints help improve air quality. Low-flow plumbing fixtures cut water use by 40%. Countertops for the

A longtime Denver dream reaches fruition July 5 with the opening of the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse on the west side of Dale Tooley Plaza opposite the handsome new Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center, dedicated in April. Denver Justice Center Complex Boosts Civic Center Profile Related Links: Top 2010 Colorado & Plains Region Projects Both buildings are located on a two-city-block site bounded by West Colfax, 14th Street, Elati and Fox. The courthouse completes the downtown portion of the Denver Justice Center, a landmark complex linking the central business district via Tremont Street to the Golden Triangle, a neighborhood of galleries, retail, bistros

The new Colorado History Museum—rechristened the History Colorado Center—located on 12th Avenue between Lincoln and Broadway in Denver, and the new Ralph L. Carr Justice Center, just north of the museum, are under way in their separate sites. Construction on the HCC began in mid-August, with demolition of the old site expected to begin this April after closure of the museum on March 28. Image: Tryba Architects Completion is scheduled for Aug. 26, 2011. An official opening date for the public has not been set. The original justice building and the Colorado History Museum, constructed in the early ‘70s across

Nevada-based Ameristar Casinos Inc. acquired far more than a single-story casino when it purchased the Mountain High Casino in Black Hawk, Colo., from Windsor Woodmont Black Hawk Resort Corp. for $114 million in mid-2004. Photo: Terry Shapiro Photo: Hensel Phelps Construction Co. Excavation for the structure required the blasting and removal of 860,000 cu yd of rock and took nearly 18 months to complete. Excavated rock was recycled as backfill within the excavation and as base material for parking areas. Related Links: A Grand Lodge Vail Resorts’ Master Plan Photo: Terry Shapiro The swimming pool and hot tubs are located