Transforming an aging 30-year-old high-rise into an energy-efficient, Class A office building is no easy task. However, Denver-based Barber Architecture was able to do just that with the property at 1001 17th St. in downtown Denver.
Built in 1977, the original 20-story building wasknown as the Qwest Building. In late 2006, Miller Global Properties LLC, Denver, purchased the building and began a renovation that combined the benefits of urban infill and adaptive reuse.
“The goal was to transform the 1970s era, single-use, single-tenant full-block development into a modern, mixed-use, multitenant property thatwould competitively lease as a Class A building,” said Chuck Adkisson, architect with Barber Architecture. “The renovated project was to be pedestrian oriented and intended to contribute toward the ongoing regeneration of this part of downtown Denver.”
Originally developed as part of Denver’s Skyline Urban Renewal area, the building featured a second level pedestrian bridge and main elevator lobby with a very small lobby at street level. When the second level pedestrian system proved to be unnecessary in Denver and was removed, the second-floor main elevator lobby became even more awkward and unworkable for a multitenant high-rise office building.
“The building’s new owners recognized that a new, highly visible street-level main entrance was required for their future office tower tenants,” Adkisson said. “Street level entrances and pedestrian active spaces were also required by the city’s urban design guidelines. The design solution was a new entry on 17th Street, opening into a two-story concourse flanked by retail uses, and connected by two new escalators to the existing second-level main elevator lobby.”
The 645,000-square-foot (59,921-m2) building renovation features a new 40,000-square-foot (3,716-m2) lobby and retail entrance that showcases Wausau, Wis.-based Wausau Window and Wall Systems’ SuperWall system, which uses Viracon’s VRE insulating glass from Viracon, Owatonna, Minn. The system’s aluminum framing was painted in two-coat 70 percent PVDF Mica and matching Champagne anodize by Wausau-based Linetec. The SuperWall system was provided in 2 1/2-inch (64- mm) widths by 10 1/4-inch (260-mm) depths and heights up to 20 feet (6 m).
Approximately 2,800 square feet (260 m2) of Anoka, Minn.-based Firestone Metal Products Inc.’s UNA-CLAD Custom Color 2-coat Fluoropolymer coated Una-Core series honeycomb aluminum soffit panels that match the curtainwall framing was selected for its flatness and durability. The Airolite Co. LLC, Marietta, Ohio, supplied approximately 375 feet (114 m) of custom profi le aluminum sunshades with a custom Fluoropolymer coating to match the curtainwall, and Fry Reglet Architectural Metals, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., supplied 11 exterior and seven interior round aluminum column covers in various lengths and diameters to clad new steel columns and several existing concrete columns.
With 91,000 square feet (8,454 m2) of space, Quiznos is currently the building’s largest tenant, with its corporate offices, a product innovation center with a test kitchen and an on-site training center. Inspired by New York’s highly visible Apple store, Quiznos designated the street-level transparent concourse of retail space for its flagship store.
The owner has registered the renovated building for LEED and is hoping to achieve LEED Gold for Existing Building O&M once the required level of occupancy has been achieved. The SuperWall system, Viracon glass and Linetec coating all contribute to the buildings’ energy-efficient design, while the recycling of many demolished materials throughout the renovation, along with green cleaning practices and an “All Together” recycling program for tenants, also aid in that goal. LEED-compliant construction materials, a new lighting control system and new water-efficient plumbing fixtures were also installed. A new fitness center for tenants, including showers for bike commuters, was constructed, along with designated spaces in the parking garage for alternate fuel vehicles and additional bike storage.
1001 17th St., Denver
Award: 2008 Development of the Year from the Colorado chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties
Owner: Miller Global Properties LLC, Denver
Architect: Barber Architecture, Denver
General contractor: The Weitz Co., Des Moines, Iowa
Glazing contractor and installer: J.R. Butler Inc., Denver
Glazing system: Wausau Window and Wall Systems, Wausau, Wis.
Insulating glass: Viracon, Owatonna, Minn.
Aluminum framing finishing: Linetec, Wausau
Column covers: Fry Reglet Architectural Metals, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.,
Soffit panels: Firestone Metal Products Inc., Anoka, Minn.
Sunshades: The Airolite Co. LLC, Marietta, Ohio
