Wendy Burt-Thomas
Posted: Thursday, December 11, 2008 4:21 pm

As Belmar adds more buildings, it will continue to use green practices. Seen here, some of Belmar’s 8,370 panels used to power lights in three parking garages.

 Not just a pretty face

New construction projects incorporate green-building practices
 

The leaders in the construction industry aren’t just those who have the most projects. In the Front Range, we care as much about how they build as we do how many. The following is a list of projects expected to be completed in the next year or two. All are incorporating some form of green building practices into their designs.
 

> One Technology Center, Louisville

California-based real estate company Passco is constructing a LEED-certified building at the 20-acre site near the Highway 36 corridor and the recently acquired ConocoPhillips office campus.
 

> Brighton Branch Library, Brighton

When the Brighton facility is completed in July 2009, it will be submitted for LEED-Silver certification. The new building will include geothermal temperature-regulated heating and cooling. 
 

> Beleza, Denver

The River North District is getting a 66-unit, 14-story residential high-rise called Beleza. The building is modeled after Curitiba, a Brazilian city that has actively promoted sustainable lifestyle and development since the 1970s. Beleza is being constructed with a goal to achieve a high level of LEED certification. Special green features include electric car plug-ins at all of its 296 indoor parking spots, automated window shades, “all-green” European-style cabinetry, and advanced HVAC heating and cooling to provide up to 75% energy savings. Price points range from $400,000 to $4 million and a summer 2010 completion is expected.
 

> Fort Carson, Colorado Springs

 Construction has begun on a $20 million, 70,000-square-foot building on Fort Carson. The facility will serve as a tactical equipment maintenance station and an engineering squadron. The building was designed to LEED-silver criteria. Construction is scheduled to be completed in August 2009.
 

> 1800 Larimer St., Denver

When completed, the 22-story, mixed-use tower will be the largest high-rise office building built in downtown Denver in 20 years. The class A lease office space is being sustainably designed for LEED-CS Platinum. It will be the first LEED-Platinum office building to be built in Denver. Plans call for a spring 2010 completion.
 

> Adams County Government Center, Brighton

Project plans call for an open design with a sustainable building that will consume fewer resources in both construction materials and methods. The goal is to create a campus that will last 100 years from its March 2010 opening.
 

> The Edge, Centennial

This multi-tenant Class A office building is being built on an east-west axis with two different facade treatments to maximize energy conservation. The 180,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in mid-2009.
 

> Fairview High School, Boulder

The 39,000-square-foot school renovation will include green features that reuse and recycle the current structure’s materials. A July 2009 completion is scheduled. Additions include a more efficient boiler and skylights.
 

> Embassy Suites, Loveland

Opening in April 2009, this hotel is expected to be one of Colorado’s largest. Plans include the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs, biodegradable detergents, and sustainable foods.
 

> Belmar, Lakewood

Although a large portion of this 22-block mixed-use development is completed, Continuum Partners says that more LEED-certified buildings are being planned. Because Belmar was built on the site of the former Villa Italia Mall, much of the construction materials from the demolition was recycled. As Belmar adds buildings, the developers will continue to use measures to conserve natural resources, reduce automobile reliance and implement alternative forms of energy.