aia colorado
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I designed Architect Colorado while working for Innovative PublishingTRANSCRIPT
A publication of The American Institute of Architects Colorado Component www.aiacolorado.org // Winter 2011-2012
PUSHING THEENVELOPE WITH BUILDING SKINS
3
ContentsFeaturesJustice for All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Pushing the Envelope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Environmental Adaptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16A New School of Thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20We Are Analog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Departments Member News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7On the Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Looking Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
On the Cover: The Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse
— a LEED Gold-certified structure containing courtroom facilities,
judges’ chambers and office space for judicial personnel in Denver .
The five-story, 317,000-square-foot courthouse juxtaposes a folding glass curtainwall system on the
eastern façade with Alabama limestone cladding on the northern,
southern and western strata .
Correction: In “Responsible Design,” the second
quote from Gary Prager, AIA, on page 23 of the previous issue should
read: “VTBS likes working with our nonprofit clients because we believe
in their missions . It’s in our nature to give back to the community, and one way we can do that is to assist
them with finding land and providing feasibility and destiny studies at
no cost .”
2011/1 Published November 2011
ArchitectColorado
4
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ArchitectColorado
| Member News
Michael Holtz, FAIA, founder
and principal of LightLouver LLC, has
been reappointed to the U.S. Green
Building Council’s (USGBC) Research
Advisory Committee and appointed to
the COMNET Steering Committee. The
USGBC Research Advisory Committee
The design of Kroc Salem represents
the successful combination of mul-
tiple community functions — aquatic
center, recreation center, church,
library, education center and cultural/
performing arts facility — in one all-
encompassing complex, resulting in
considerable operational savings and
increased usage over a traditional
recreation center.
acts to advance the understanding
and practice of sustainable building
design, construction and opera-
tion through applied research and
innovation. The COMNET Steering
Committee oversees the development
and maintenance of standards, includ-
ing the Modeling Guidelines and
Procedures, for evaluating the energy
performance of commercial buildings.
Denver-based Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture was
recently honored with an Aquatics
International Dream Designs award for
its innovative design of the Salvation
Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community
Center in Salem, Oregon. According to
the Aquatics International website, “The
Dream Designs showcase is an annual
program that highlights extraordinary
aquatics facility design projects.”
The LEED® Silver, 91,500-square-foot
community center represents part of
the program initiated by a $1.8 billion
gift from the late Joan Kroc, wife of
McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc.
ArchitectColorado
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ArchitectColorado
Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse Exemplifies Law and Order for Denver Residentsby Michael Adkins
Justice for AllO ftentimes, experts in the field of architec-
ture believe that the only way to get a truly
unique design is to use expensive, custom-
built, one-of-a-kind systems in a building’s construction .
But the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse proves that there
is more than one way to skin a building .
A tenuous juxtaposition of skin types creates and provides visual tension, interest and dynamism .
ArchitectColorado
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In 2001, Denver voters rejected a bond proposal for a
new justice facility near 6th Avenue and Interstate 25,
according to Lesley Thomas, deputy manager of Denver
Public Works and city engineer. “It also became clear
that the district, juvenile and county courts at the City
and County Building were overcrowded and that a new
proposal should accommodate those courts as well,”
she explained.
In 2004, the Urban Land Institute recommended that
a new complex be constructed that would separate the
city’s detention center and courthouse facilities, rather
than continuing to house them in the same structure.
Voters approved this proposal for the downtown Denver
Justice Center campus in May 2005, which would include
a detention center and a post office/parking garage struc-
ture. The Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse, named after nota-
ble judges Benjamin Barr Lindsey and James C. Flanigan,
would be the third and final part of this campus.
Denver Public Works originally chose Denver-based
firm klipp Architecture Planning Interiors to serve as
the architect of record for the courthouse, with an
out-of-state firm assuming the role of design architect
— but when that firm left the project after about seven
months of work, klipp was asked to assume the project
as the sole architect, according to Keat Tan, AIA, klipp’s
director of design and principal designer for the proj-
ect. “We started over from scratch,” he said.
Going back to the drawing board allowed the
team to reimagine the idea being communicated by
the structure. “I’m a true believer of ‘big-idea’ archi-
tecture,” Tan said. “It has to have intent and pur-
pose. Throughout history, buildings have evolved
from simple structures for shelter and functionality
to show self-expression.”
In this case, the design of the Lindsey-Flanigan
Courthouse conveyed two “big ideas” — the Lantern
of Justice and the Stratification of Justice. “For the
Lantern of Justice, we wanted to reflect the idea that
justice should be transparent to the public,” Tan said.
This was accomplished through the use of a folding
glass curtainwall system along the structure’s eastern
façade that soars to a height of 92 feet. The curtain-
wall is a standard 1600 Kawneer system, modified
only as needed to fit the design, which “provides a
unique look while maintaining the budget require-
ments,” Thomas stated.
Meanwhile, the Stratification of Justice idea
responds to the idea of the public and private sides
of justice, the functional layout of the internal spaces
and the need for both public access and privacy for
the users of the courthouse. On a macro and urban-
planning level, the stratification “layers” from the
“Thanks to klipp’s design, Denver received a world-class building that will forever live in our civic landscape.” — Lesley Thomas
Transparency and reflectivity evoke the notion of justice .
The glowing “lantern” façade exuberates the notion of importance and eternity .
Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse
Architect: klipp Architecture Planning Interiors
General Contractor/Construction Manager: Hensel Phelps Construction Co.
Location: Denver
Cost: $136.3 million
Scope: 317,000 square feet; five stories; 112 feet
tall; 35 courtrooms (29 finished, with six available
for future buildout)
Sustainability: LEED Gold-certified
Function: Multiple courtroom facilities,
judges’ chambers and office space for
various judicial personnel
Owner: City and County of Denver
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ArchitectColorado
Colorado State Capitol Building along the east-to-
west axis through to the courthouse building within
the Denver civic complex.
The courthouse makes use of Alabama limestone
cladding on the northern, southern and western
façades. While the eastern side, or strata, houses
courtrooms and other public-accessible areas —
requiring the open views provided by the glass
curtainwall — the western strata houses chambers
for the courts’ presiding judges, which are areas that
require the strictest confidentiality and privacy. “The
undulating stone pattern, with shade and shadow
created by the sun, provides an interesting and
dynamic texture that evokes a fabric-wrap skin on
the building, making it friendly and non-imposing to
the adjacent neighborhood,” Tan explained. “It cre-
ates a very rich texture when the sun shines on it, as
well as a scaling device for the building as a whole;
and it provides an expression of highly articulated,
thoughtful design on the surface.”
Construction of the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse
began in August 2007 and was completed in May 2010,
with the courts moving into their new courtrooms in
June 2010. In addition to its innovative use of standard
systems, the courthouse addresses a city requirement
for sustainability in new construction by achieving a
certification of LEED Gold from the U.S. Green Building
Council through the inclusion of energy-efficient
mechanical and electrical systems, natural daylighting
and ventilation, and two green roofs, among other
“green” features.
Tan said he was glad the city was open to the idea of
a contemporary design for the courthouse, rather than
the traditional or neo-classical techniques used in many
judicial complexes across the nation. “That really let us
push the envelope for this,” he noted. “It let us provide
a finished product that really stands out for the city and
county of Denver and [one] that I think is world-class.”
As Thomas pointed out, the Lindsey-Flanigan
Courthouse fulfilled a promise to Denver’s residents to
provide the best facility possible to meet the commu-
nity’s needs. “Thanks to klipp’s design, Denver received
a world-class building that will forever live in our civic
landscape,” she said. “I’m extremely pleased with the
way the project turned out and enjoyed working with
klipp throughout the process.” ●
Phot
ogra
phy
© F
rank
Oom
s
ArchitectColorado
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T he convergence of science and tech-nology is fueling an explosion of new building materials and designs that
offer striking visual effects while providing innovative strategies related to energy conservation and material optimization . It is hard not to notice that much of the application of these materials is occurring outside of the United States or is limited to the palettes of high-profile architects and their clients . There are, however, archi-tects and engineers in Colorado who are engaged in the research, development and application of both new materials and the transformation of conventional ones .
Architect Colorado had a conversation with a few of these architects and engineers, including: Chris O’Hara, AIA Colorado professional affiliate, P .E ., principal, Studio NYL; Gerardo Salinas, AIA, LEED AP, partner, Rojkind Arquitectos; Fred Andreas, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, princi-pal, Unit Design Studio; and Ben de Rubertis, AIA, LEED
AP BD+C, principal, NAC|Architecture .
Colorado Architects and Engineers Expand the Realm of Possibilities in Building Skin Designby Sarah Goldblatt, AIA
Chris O’Hara, P.E., Studio NYLIn 2004, Chris O’Hara and Julian Lineham founded
Studio NYL Structural Engineers in Boulder, Colo., with
an emphasis on the holistic design of building struc-
tures, which is supplemented with a specialization in
façade design. Notable façade projects include the
Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse with klipp Architecture
Planning Interiors; the Ralph Carr Justice Center with
Fentress Architects; and projects around the world
with Rojkind Arquitectos, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, Neil
Denari and Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
What is happening worldwide with building skin innovation?Lots. Let’s start with concrete. Photocatalytic con-
crete is basically the smog-buster that Richard Meier
used on the Jubilee Church in Rome. It creates a
chemical reaction with sunlight, dirt and pollut-
ants and breaks them down into water and gas. As
a result, it takes the smog and dirt out of the air
while keeping the building façade perfectly clean
throughout its life. It’s available in the States now,
mostly on the coasts.
The other concrete product that is also just reach-
ing the United States is a product called Ductal®, made
by Lafarge. For a while in the U.S., it couldn’t be classi-
fied as concrete, because it can be cast so thin. It’s like
a fiber-mesh concrete, except the fibers are steel, so
it’s highly corrosive-resistant and roughly three times
as strong as conventional concrete and doesn’t require
reinforcement. It’s generally used as a precast element.
Pushingthe
University of Arizona
Photo Credit: Dri-D
esign with O
mbrae™
ArchitectColorado13
ments of Zahner’s (metal skin fabricator) patented system,
which support aluminum sheathing and stainless steel skin.
By approaching the project this way, we were able to use
more cost-effective local labor for the fabrication of the
translation structure and erection of the skin’s system.
Is this groundbreaking for Mexico?Yes. This is taking the form and the technology to a level that
they previously didn’t have the ability to do.
What about ETFE?NASA invented ETFE. It’s a thermoplastic version of Teflon®,
so it’s self-cleaning and can be transparent. It’s one-one-
hundredth the weight of glass. Cost and familiarity are hold-
ing back the product. It got its start with Grimshaw’s Eden
Project in Cornwall, England. The air inside the dome weighs
more than the dome … that is how light the structure is.
The same product was used on the Water Cube in Beijing.
A lot of these materials have high price tags. What’s hap-pening in terms of low-cost building skins?We did a concept for a house that Libeskind designed.
Basically, it is a form like the Denver Art Museum. It was
a simple steel frame with SIPS clad on it. The parts and
pieces that go together are very simple, normal part and
pieces, arranged in a very complicated way.
We have also been going to the complete other
end of the spectrum with rammed-earth technology
and compressed-earth block. We have developed an
insulated rammed-earth system that is appropriate to
Colorado’s climate.
Where do you think the future is going with building skins?Fiber-reinforced polymers. Carbon fiber is light, five to six
times as strong as steel — it’s fantastic stuff, very elastic.
Good for reinforcing and seismic upgrading. They make
this like a SIP panel now. The Air Force developed the
A good example of this application is the RATP Bus
Centre designed by ECDM Architects in France.
Ductal® is phenomenally, outrageously rigid and
thin. It’s like putting up any other precast system,
except you’re saving weight, which makes your beams
smaller, columns smaller, foundations smaller, and
you aren’t losing all that floor area with a thick skin
element. It’s here, just not in Colorado yet. Eventually,
standard precast skins will go away, and this will take
over. There is also a radiant skin system that was
recently featured in Architectural Record called Liquid
Wall™, which uses Ductal® in conjunction with a radi-
ant heating/cooling system.
How about innovation in glass?The real jump in glazing technology is in perfor-
mance rather than structure. The technology has
changed with light transmittance, reflectivity and
energy performance — whether it’s through insu-
lated units or different coatings. Structurally, the big
change can be seen in the Apple Stores. Many of
those details and concepts are patented, but all that
testing and technology is now available. We can
take this data and extrapolate from it and do more
inventive things that we couldn’t do previously, pri-
marily because no one could afford to do the test-
ing that Apple does.
Describe the metal skin you are working on with Rojkind Architectos in Mexico City.In the project we are currently doing with Rojkind
Architectos in Mexico City, we developed what I call a
translation structure with idealized bearing locations
for the exterior skin system. The exterior skin uses ele-
University of Arizona
Liverpool Insurgentes Department StorePh
oto
Cred
it: B
en d
e Ru
bert
is
Rendering: Rojkind Arquitectos
ArchitectColorado
14
carbon-fiber panel technology to use for temporary run-
ways. They can also make similar system with polymers
that are more similar to fiberglass and, therefore, less
expensive than carbon. What makes it even more acces-
sible is that it is made right here in Boulder.
What excites you about the future of architectural building skins?I think ETFE is exciting. But the story hasn’t been written on
the carbon-fiber products. I am also interested in more low-
tech systems. As much as we do the wild and crazy, we are
starting a program with the Rob Pyatt and the University
of Colorado called NASHI [Native American Sustainable
Housing Initiative], and it is with the Lakota Indians, where
we are designing sustainable houses — not just sustainable
environmentally; I mean sustainable economically as well.
Gerardo Salinas, AIA, LEED AP, Partner, Rojkind ArquitectosGerardo Salinas spent 15 years working in the United
States, including six for Anderson Mason Dale Architects in
Colorado. In 2008, he was named Young Architect of the
Year by The American Institute of Architects Denver Chapter.
In 2010, he returned to his native Mexico to join Rojkind
Arquitectos as partner.
How is Rojkind Arquitectos’ commitment to building skin innovation impacting the fabric of Mexico City and design worldwide?We tend to see the potential of our buildings in terms
of improving the quality of the public space that can be
generated by them. The building skin helps define the
quality of these spaces or the way people react to them.
In a country like ours, our buildings tend to have a big-
ger impact on the fabric of the city due to the lack of
good urban planning.
How does the manipulation of the building skin on your projects respond to the demands of the site, including energy consumption, cultural context, identity, etc.?Each project is heavily influenced by its unique relation-
ship to its context. The skin becomes an integral part of
the public realm and needs to address this condition and
not only be an envelope for the building.
How do you approach the research and analysis of a new building skin that you are using?There is a lot of exploration that is done at the forefront
of each project with materials, including performance,
costs and durability. Our focus then turns into how to
take all of the digital explorations and turn them into a
buildable solution using local materials and our available
local fabricators.
Would you say that you are working more with new materials and technologies or standard materials used in new ways?More than using new materials, it is the way these mate-
rials are assembled and finished using the local means
available to us. We are not tied to a material palette and
we are willing to explore what is best for each project.
Why, in your opinion, is there more innovation in archi-tectural building skins in Mexico, Asia and Europe than in the United States?Perhaps because we don’t have such a litigious system
as in the USA. We also are fortunate enough to have
one of the best climates and very good local labor that
allows us to experiment more without the added cost.
Fred Andreas, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal, Unit Design StudioFred Andreas is the principal architect of Unit Design
Studio, assistant adjunct professor of architecture at
the College of Architecture at the University of Colorado
Denver and assistant research professor at the College
of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of
Colorado Boulder. Through practice, teaching and research,
he has been committed to the development of innovative
sustainable and green design approaches. He is currently
part of a National Science Foundation-funded project
team researching the application of biomimetic design
principles to develop an intelligent and integrated Living
Building Wall system.
Describe the objectives and potential of your National Science Foundation (NSF) research on the Living Building Wall System.The objective of the NSF Living Wall System research
is to develop new cutting-edge technology for actual
Zero Net Energy Buildings (ZNEB). Current LEED-based
systems rely on typical, though highly efficient, HVAC
Liverpool Interlomas Department Store
Photo Credit: Rojkind Arquitectos
ArchitectColorado15
and lighting technologies. Our objective is to develop a
comprehensive, completely passive commercial proto-
type with an energy reduction of between 80 [percent]
and 90 percent over ASHRAE standards. This should rev-
olutionize the conditioning of buildings with an entire
paradigm shift in building design and technology.
How does the application of biomimetic design prin-ciples guide the advancement toward net-zero buildings?The research follows the biomimic example of biologic
skin that auto-regulates heating, cooling, moisture and
vapor in any organism. Developing an effective auto-
regulating hydrogel skin for buildings will revolutionize
future building designs, allowing building’s façades
to react to environmental heating, cooling and light-
ing conditions on the exterior. Following biomimic
examples, the Living Wall System integrated within a
building’s exterior skin and the centralized building
automated systems (BAS) will allow building skins into
collect, concentrate, store and transport energy from
areas of high energy to areas of low energy.
How will buildings look and perform that employ the Living Building Wall System?Buildings will largely look like modern commercial
buildings do today, with curtainwall systems on the
outboard side. The technology and systems will allow
for modern designs with an expansive pallet of exterior
skins showcasing integrated high-tech technologies.
The exterior design concepts remain the same, placing
a skin on the exterior of a building, except now the skin
will react to the environmental energy and climate to
capture and utilize that energy.
Benjamin de Rubertis, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal, NAC|ArchitectureBenjamin de Rubertis is a principal with NAC|Architecture
in its Denver office. His award-winning work with the firm
includes projects with a strong urban component and
high-level sustainable design. For his recent resident hall
projects at the University of Arizona, he explored old-world
methods for climate control and translated them into a
dynamic building skin that anchors the campus.
Describe your strategies for the building skin design for the University of Arizona residence halls.In Tucson, thermal comfort is very difficult to achieve
for spaces with any significant exposure to sunlight. We
looked at technologies employed at similar latitudes:
Marrakesh, Isfahan and Jaipur. These were old technolo-
gies — jalis windows, masonry brise-soleil and traditional
sun awnings.
How does your design relate to the demands of the site and context?At Likins Hall, we applied a brick pattern already in use
throughout the neighborhood. At Arbol de la Vida, we
have an old slab-style dormitory to one side and one
of the four main campus corners on the other. At that
corner, we worked with a company called Dri-Design
that has developed a novel technology that allowed us
to create a brise-soleil to protect a large window from
solar gain and also reflect light off its surface to project
the image of a slot canyon.
Describe your application of the Dri-Design with Ombrae™ imaging technology.Each metal panel is fabricated with a unique image
— accomplished by way of a proprietary technology.
The metal panels perform as a rain screen — joints
in the cladding are not sealed; rather, they allow the
passage of air, vapor and moisture. The outside sur-
face of the product is perforated in pixel fashion, such
that the light reflects differently off of each individual
pixel. The result is an almost holographic image. We
suspended these panels in front of a large glass area
so that the panels serve multiple functions — as a
building cladding to control the elements, for shading
to mitigate heat and as a work of art to establish a sig-
nature campus corner.
How did you translate old-world approaches to climate control into a modern building skin for the residence halls?Masonry brise-soleil is a very common feature of older
buildings in the Middle East and India. We did not do
much to translate this technology; rather, we found a
way to create a masonry brise-soleil using modern build-
ing codes. The Ombrae™ product is a true translation of
older technology. At the Palace of the Winds in Jaipur, a
perforated façade was created by craft traditions, where-
as our metal slot canyon is part craft but also dependent
on computer technology for creating the image. ●
Phot
o Cr
edit:
Gui
do T
orre
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Tori Tori Restaurant
ArchitectColorado
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Eco-Friendly Garage Skin Works with the Weather to Minimize Energy Consumptionby Alexandria Lopez
EnvironmentalAdaptation
A mericans today are increas-
ingly aware of transportation’s
effects on the environment .
From the development of hybrid vehicles
to the ongoing search for “green” fuel
sources, consumer consciousness is higher
than ever . Green parking structures, how-
ever, have gotten relatively little buzz
— that is, until the U .S . Department of
Energy commissioned RNL to design a
578,000-square-foot parking garage for the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s
campus . “We’ve done a number of projects
for the lab,” explained Richard T . Anderson,
AIA, LEED AP, senior principal at RNL . “The
primary thing that distinguishes any project
for this client is their commitment to green,
sustainable design .” The highly efficient
structure, intended to prove that it is easy
being green, features custom-designed skin
assemblies that allow the garage to adapt
to a variety of environmental conditions
without busting its energy budget .
East view of parking garage
17
ArchitectColorado
In September 2010, RNL began design-
ing the parking garage with a modest
budget and a large surface area to be
covered with skin. In order to keep energy
requirements low, the garage needed to
be designed on an open plan — with
no inherent weather protection. “Even
though it’s open, you can’t let wind,
snow and water come in to any great
extent, because that becomes hazard-
ous,” Anderson noted. In order to mitigate
environmental factors, the garage’s skin
would have to be uniquely designed to
respond to various types of weather. “We
had to look at weather studies to know
what parts of the building were going to
get what type of weather,” architect Ryan
Meeks, LEED AP, primary skin designer,
said. “We couldn’t do the same solution
around the entire elevation; we had to test
each section and see how the light levels
and wind mitigation were working out.”
Selecting the perfect material for the
skin was also a challenge. The design
team considered various types of
fabric and metal mesh before settling
on a thin, perforated aluminum. “The
aluminum was a real positive from a
green standpoint because it’s almost
totally recycled,” Anderson explained.
“It’s a very green-friendly material and
also extremely durable.” It also met
and exceeded the federal installation
criterion of being a U.S.-manufactured
product. “The aluminum could be fab-
ricated locally,” Meeks noted, explain-
ing that a team of workers paints and
punches the material before forming
it into panels. “We’re not using a pre-
manufactured system; that wasn’t
really an option for us. We had to find
something to fit our budget, so we had
the contractor, fabricator, suppliers and
architects sit down and work through
what is a one-of-a-kind, very economi-
cal and fairly simple system.”
Once fashioned, the aluminum panels
were placed on the garage’s exterior in
a woven pattern. “Because it’s a low-
energy building with an open exterior,
Adaptation
National Renewable Energy Laboratory Parking Garage
Architect: RNL
Location: Golden, Colo.
Scope: 578,000 square feet
Number of Parking Spaces Available: 1,800
Function: Sustainable parking garage
Owner: U.S. Department of Energy’s National
Renewable Energy Laboratory
“We had to find something to fit our budget, so we had the contractor, fabricator, suppliers and architects sit down and work through what is a one-of-a-kind, very economical and fairly simple system.” — Ryan Meeks, AIA, LEED AP
Photovoltaic panels
Parking structure rendering
ArchitectColorado
18
Stair tower rendering
you want to take advantage of the day-
lighting potential,” Anderson explained.
RNL collaborated with a wind consultant
to determine how much skin was neces-
sary to maximize the amount of natural
light in the structure while limiting the
amount of wind and precipitation that
enters the garage. The end result is a
skin composed of 40 percent aluminum
panels, which are roughly 60 percent
open to the elements.
“The skin really changes as you go
around the building,” Anderson noted.
Since the western elevation of the garage
has both the greatest potential for wind
and snow, as well as low sun, that elevation
received the greatest amount of coverage,
followed by the north side of the building.
The panels decrease significantly in num-
ber on the eastern elevation of the parking
garage, where they are also spread out
across the surface of the building’s side.
The south side of the building receives
virtually no exposure to wind and snow
while receiving a great deal of sunlight. In
response to these prime weather condi-
tions, RNL designed a mounting system for
photovoltaic panels for the southern eleva-
tion to generate energy from the large
amount of daylight present.
RNL also took several other factors
into account when designing the NREL
parking garage in order to minimize the
structure’s impact on the environment
surrounding it. They placed upturned
concrete beams around the perimeter
of the garage to prevent light pollution
caused by car headlights shining onto
neighboring property. Noting that the
building site was home to a lot of wildlife,
they glazed the garage’s central light well
and stair towers with glass covered with
a ceramic semi-transparent frit pattern in
order to prevent bird strikes, a major prob-
lem in glass buildings. Though small, these
design elements are consistent with the
garage’s overarching green theme.
Although the garage is still under
construction, Anderson and his team are
excited about the impact their building
may have on similar projects. “I think it
has the ability to really set a standard for
an extremely efficient building type,” he
enthused. “It’s exciting to explore all of
the ways we can save energy and pro-
vide an efficient parking garage that is
also aesthetically pleasing.” ●
19
ArchitectColorado
“It’s exciting to explore all of the ways we can save energy and provide an efficient parking garage that is also aesthetically pleasing.” — Richard Anderson, AIA, LEED AP
North perspective of garage
A New
ThoughtSchool of
Denver Public Schools Rethinks Educational
Architecture with the Evie Garrett Dennis E-12 Campus
by Michael Adkins
M any school districts in large
metropolitan areas are find-
ing that their students are not
flourishing in traditional educational facilities
— huge buildings with 800, 900, even 1,500
or more students all under one roof . This was
the case for Denver Public Schools (DPS), which
had not had the kind of success it wanted with
those types of facilities in the past .
Evie Garrett Dennis E-12 Campus aerial rendering
21
ArchitectColorado
The district decided a new type of facility was need-
ed — but there had not been a new high school
built in Denver since the early 1980s. DPS leaders
started to ask themselves a series of questions. What
were the design ideas that would form the basis of
American education in the 21st century? What type
of campus would give Denver students the best
chance at success — and, ultimately, support the
type of educational changes DPS was hoping for as it
implemented the Denver Plan, the district’s strategic
roadmap for improvement?
After determining that the next facility would
be built in the far northeast Denver neighborhood
of Green Valley Ranch, DPS and the Foundation for
Education Excellence held a design competition in
2005 among nine area architectural firms to design
this forward-thinking educational campus. Denver-
based DLR Group won the competition, and city
residents passed a bond measure funding the
project in November 2008.
The end result was the Evie Garrett Dennis E-12
Campus — a four-building, 190,000-square-foot
complex named after retired DPS Superintendent
Dr. Evie Garrett Dennis. Construction began on the
project in June 2009 and was completed one year
later. After saving $5.8 million of the total funding
allotted to the project, DPS used the remaining
money toward the design and construction of a
Evie Garrett Dennis E-12 Campus
Architect: DLR Group
General Contractor: Saunders Construction
Turnkey Developer: HC Development
Location: Denver
Cost: $42.7 million
Scope: 190,000 square feet; four build-
ings (original plan — later expanded to five
buildings); 35 acres
Sustainability: LEED Gold-certified (first
school facility in Denver to earn this rating)
Function: Multiple school facilities
Owner: Denver Public Schools
Detail of Front Range imagery in Student Union panel
Entry plaza
ArchitectColorado
22
fifth building on the campus, which was completed
in late spring 2011.
The campus is shared by three different schools:
SOAR@Green Valley Ranch, a charter school that
will eventually include kindergarten through fifth
grades; Denver School of Science and Technology,
a charter school that focuses on science, technol-
ogy, engineering and mathematics and will cater to
sixth- through 12-graders; and Vista Academy, the
district’s second multiple-pathways center, which
provides career and technology education to sixth-
through 12th-graders. At full enrollment, the cam-
pus will include approximately 2,000 students and
more than 100 faculty members, according to Kelly
Leid, DPS’ former director of operations.
Each building is constructed of tilt-up concrete pan-
els that were cast on-site and raised into position by
the project’s general contractor, Saunders Construction.
Bob Binder, AIA, REFP, LEED AP, principal of DLR Group,
noted that tilt-up construction had several attractive
features, including equal or lower costs compared to
traditional methods and speed of construction.
“Also, we identified the wall panels as a way
to achieve a high R-value [a measure of thermal
resistance], which allowed for a smaller mechanical
plant,” Binder said. “That directly translated to saved
money for the district.” For the campus’ Student
Union building, DLR Group included thermal-mass
panels with two layers of concrete sandwiched
around a layer of insulation, further contributing to
the building’s energy efficiency. “The environmental
impact is much lower than any other school we’ve
ever done,” Binder added.
But DLR Group’s design wasn’t solely pragmatic. The
skins of the buildings maintain the district’s theme
of sustainability with designs that complement the
campus’ panoramic views. These designs are cast into
concrete surfacing and take advantage of the campus’
“For the district, it shows we’re not afraid to do new things. We’re in the teaching and learning business, and this campus supports the changes DPS is making in the way it does things for the benefit of our students. This campus is going to inform and influence our practices as a district well into the future.” — Kelly Leid
Student Union main entry – front range imagery in skin detail
23
Jim Smallwood, RHU, REBCPresidentEmployee Benefits DivisionMoody Insurance [email protected]: 303.393.4005
“It’s been my pleasure to work with architects from across Colorado for nearly 20 years. If you’re looking for a better solution for your employee benefits or insurance needs, please don’t hesitate to call me.”
To advertise in future issues of Architect Colorado, please contact Kelly Arvin at
502.423.7272 or [email protected].
www.ipipub.com
siting and orientation. Building 1, the Student Union,
calls to mind the red rock present in the Front Range
Foothills. Buildings 2 and 3, on the west side of the
campus, showcase the craggy peaks of the Rocky
Mountains. And Building 4, on the campus’ eastern
edge, details the rolling hills of Colorado’s Eastern
Plains. Also for aesthetic purposes, tilt-up concrete
panels on portions of the campus include a layer of
thin-set brick, giving the appearance of brick con-
struction without the associated costs.
Binder said he has been extremely pleased with
the way the Evie Garrett Dennis Campus turned out.
“I’ve been with DLR Group for 16 years working in
the K-through-12 market, and this is the most unique
project I’ve worked on in Colorado or Wyoming —
probably in the top one or two for the company
nationwide,” he stated. “It’s a very gratifying project.”
Leid, who has been appointed by Denver Mayor
Michael B. Hancock as the city and county’s new
director of Development Services, said the complet-
ed Evie Garrett Dennis campus has exceeded his
expectations. “Early indicators are that the students
who get to go to school on the campus are going
to prosper,” he said. “For the district, it shows we’re
not afraid to do new things. We’re in the teaching
and learning business, and this campus supports
the changes DPS is making in the way it does
things for the benefit of our students. This campus
is going to inform and influence our practices as a
district well into the future.” ●
Academy entrance – feature panel with formliner and reveals
ArchitectColorado
24
It may seem strange for me to be a
proponent of non-computer-aided
design processes. After all, my very
first studio in undergrad was a
“paperless studio,” which meant just
that: no paper, no pencils, all com-
puters, all CAD. It felt like we could
create and render entire worlds
before we could adequately sketch
the image staring back from the
mirror. We had learned to excel at
producing images that could quickly and clearly com-
municate design concepts, but I quickly learned that
they were not always the concepts we intended to
communicate. The level of detail in computer images
brought unintended attention to certain areas of our
designs and often did not adequately present the
solutions we wanted the focus on.
For years, this complex level of digital modeling
had been relegated to Hollywood production studios
and those folks with pockets much deeper than the
average architecture student. Suddenly, software like
FormZ, 3DStudio and SketchUp found a home in our
grubby little design-student hands, and the world
suddenly became much easier to represent. It seemed
that, as our skills on the computer gained focus, our
skills with pencil and paper were proportionately
pushed to the back burner. You may ask yourself, “So
what?! Who needs a pencil when you have a shiny
new MacBook Pro with a full software suite installed?!”
Well, despite our generation’s dedication to the
computer, perhaps these skills alone are not enough.
What if every one of us saw the need to couple our
wireless optical mice with an inherent ability to draw?
Maybe the ability to sketch your thoughts during a
conversation with a client can be more powerful than
even a fully refined digital image.
A few years ago, we were working on a small multi-
family project. We had prepared a few hand sketches
from a draft FormZ model and were going over the
designs with our client. We were discussing things in
a very fluid way; he seemed to understand that the
hand sketches represented a work in progress. He was
open to alternates being discussed on the fly. I could
tell he was open to further evolution of our solution.
Soon, the need to look at a view not previously
sketched came up. I turned on my laptop and opened
the digital model so that we could fly around a bit. I
was genuinely shocked to see a drastic change in our
client’s perspective. Suddenly, he expected this realis-
tic-looking digital model to represent a final solution.
It was the exact same solution we had been discuss-
ing all along, but the simple switch from analog to digital
seemed to trigger a premature solution in his mind. Where
the hand sketch was apparent as just one stop along the
project’s evolution, the computer model meant, to him,
that the design process was finished. Had we suddenly
designed ourselves into a corner?! I quickly turned the lap-
top off, and we returned to discussing the hand sketches.
Since that experience, our firm has striven to make
the ability to sketch much more central to our skill set.
We spend more time simply drawing what is around
us: nature, the city and projects we dream up. There is
still plenty of work ahead, but the exercise is, at the very
least, a great distraction from the 17-inch LCD screen. ●
AIA Colorado members interested in submitting similar
articles to Architect Colorado should contact AIA Colorado
Membership & Communication Manager Alaina Gonzales at
by Adam Hillhouse, AIA, of Hillhouse Architects, Inc.We Are Analog
“We spend more time simply drawing
what is around us: nature, the city and
projects we dream up. There is still
plenty of work ahead, but the exercise
is, at the very least, a great distraction
from the 17-inch LCD screen.” — Adam Hillhouse, AIA
On the Boards|||
Holly School DPK-12Architect: RTA Architects, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Principal in Charge: Michael J. Malloy, AIA, Assoc. Principal
Project Manager: Doug Abernethy, AIA, Assoc. Principal
Construction Management/General Contractor: Adolfson &
Peterson Construction
Location: Holly, Colo.
Owner: Holly School District RE-3
Scope: Master plan and architectural design services for a new
DPK-12 campus and facility
Cost: $25.1 million
Project Start: Spring 2012
Expected Project Completion: Fall 2013
Located in rural southeastern Colorado, the design for the
new 73,000-square-foot Holly DPK-12 campus provides a
state-of-the-art, high-performing sustainable facility while
drawing inspiration from the region’s materials and forms. The
project’s funding was assisted by the Colorado Department of
Education’s BEST Grant Program and consolidates three separate
school facilities into one, maximizing operational costs and
energy efficiency. The project scope also includes the historic
restoration of the local limestone WPA Holly gymnasium, which
frames a new school entry, a park and athletic space available
for community use, and a new connection to Main Street.
The organizing geometry of the site mimics the irrigation
circles and acreage squares of the region’s agricultural grid as
viewed from above. The tall, open structure of the commons
space is strategically located adjacent to the main entry, the
library and the outdoor athletic plaza, and utilizes a bi-fold
door as a divider between the gymnasium, which can be
opened to accommodate larger community events. Designed
to LEED® Gold benchmarks, the project incorporates controlled
daylighting and reclaimed wood from the site, and it allows
for various sustainable systems to be a visible learning tool for
students and low-water-use native plants for landscaping. The
new school will bring new life to an aging educational campus
and a new gathering place for a close-knit rural community.
Looking Ahead|||
On the Boards|||
ArchitectColorado
26
Connect with AIA Colorado on the InternetFollow AIA Colorado on Twitter at twitter.com/aiacolorado, or become a
fan of AIA Colorado on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aiacoloradopage.
AIA Colorado Is Moving in 2012
AIA Colorado is relocating its office to 303
East 17th Avenue in Denver and intends
to occupy the new space in January 2012.
AIA Colorado West member firm Studio
B Architects (Aspen, Colo.) was selected
as the design architect and architect of
record. AIA Denver member firm Hutton
Architecture Studio (Denver) will contribute
to the development and implementation
of sustainable strategies for the project.
Other contributors include AIA Colorado
professional affiliate members BCER
Engineering Inc., 186 Lighting Design Group
and Stone Bridge Partners, LLC, among
others. Visit aiacolorado.org for updated
information throughout the project.
The Evie Garrett Dennis E-12 Campus in Denver on page 20
Colorado State Patrol Historical Museum and Learning CenterArchitect: Roth Shepperd Architects, Denver
Location: Golden, Colo.
Owner: Colorado Department of Public Safety
The Colorado Department of Public Safety retained Roth
Sheppard Architects to design a new 9,040-square-foot
Colorado State Patrol (CSP) Historical Museum and Learning
Center that expresses both the purpose and experience of a
museum, yet provides an inviting, functional office environ-
ment and boardroom for the occupants.
The three elements of the program — the museum, the
offices and the boardroom — symbolically refer to the CSP’s
split into three regions as well as the organization’s three core
values — Honor, Respect and Dedication to Duty. These ele-
ments are also clearly evident in the building’s floor plan, its
exterior perspectives and its use of three distinctively different
cladding materials: glass, metal and masonry. The six entrance
openings on the north side, which lead into the covered entry,
also signify the CSP’s six districts.
Overall, the building is designed to express the look and feel
of a museum through large expanses of glass on the north
side to showcase museum displays and a dramatic south-
facing sloped roof to enhance potential photovoltaic solar use
and control natural daylight. The building is also designed to
be constructed economically through the inventive use of a
pre-engineered building system.
27
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