[CSDA] commercial.

1st PLACE

Science and Engineering Building, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs campus

Architect: AR7 Architects

SUSTAINABLE FEATURES

* Water-conserving flush and flow fixtures--including waterless urinals, dual-flush water closets, low-flow lavatories, showers and sinks--are predicted to reduce potable water consumption by 42 percent compared to a standard code-compliant building.

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* Outside, the use of high-efficiency irrigation technologies along with water conserving plant species reduce potable water demand for irrigation by 59 percent compared to a conventional landscape design typical of the area.

* The mechanical cooling plant consists of variable speed chillers with environmentally friendly refrigerant, premium efficiency variable speed pumps, and ice storage tanks. At night when the air is cool and electric utility rates are low, the chillers build ice in the tanks

* On the roof, a 2,300-square-foot thin film photovoltaic panel system produces about 26,000 kilowatt hours per year for the building.

* Recycling and storage areas are placed throughout the building, accessible to all building occupants. In addition, the construction team salvaged or diverted from the landfill 97 percent of all construction waste.

OVERVIEW

The Science and Engineering Building, located on the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs campus, consists of new classroom, laboratory, research and office spaces. Initially, the university's goal was to obtain a LEED-certified building; the design team delivered a building that achieved LEED Gold, in part by a design that reduced energy costs by 31 percent (when compared with baseline standards).

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JUDGES' COMMENTS

HERE'S A PROJECT THAT INCLUDES A BIT OF EVERYTHING--STRONG BUILDING DESIGN WITH THOUGHTFUL ARCHITECTURE, PASSIVE SHADING THAT ALLOWS DAYLIGHT TO PENETRATE, AND NIGHTTIME ICE STORAGE THAT MAKES GOOD USE OF PEAK ELECTRICITY USE. IT'S A BUILT-TO-LAST STRUCTURE THAT FEATURES QUALITY BUILDING MATERIALS BUT NOTHING FANCY. IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES A STRONG LINK TO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM--AN ENGINEERING BUILDING THAT IS SMARTLY ENGINEERED IN EVERY WAY."

2nd PLACE

Renaissance Riverfront Lofts, Denver

Architect: Colorado Coalition for the Homeless/Carvell Page Southerland Page Architects

SUSTAINABLE FEATURES

* Fifty percent of the construction waste was recycled and site runoff was controlled to avoid water contamination.

* The building's double "C" footprint and orientation maximizes natural light through south and west exposures and protects against buffeting northwest winds.

* Rooftop photovoltaic panels will generate 39,650 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, equivalent to offsetting carbon dioxide emissions by 79,000 pounds a year.

* The building's Ecospace elevators use one-third of the energy required for hydraulic lifts and don't need oil.

* Energy Star appliances and light fixtures in all units further conserve energy while low-flow toilets, faucets and showers save water.

OVERVIEW

This public-private-nonprofit collaboration incorporates two important city initiatives--Denver's Road Home and the Greener Denver program of the Office of Economic Development--in support of important social, economic and environmental goals. The 100-unit mixed-income development located in River North in Denver, near the Prospect and Denargo Market Neighborhoods, is within walking distance to downtown. Its primary orientation fronts Park Avenue West, a major east/west RTD bus line, and the bike and jogging trails along the South Platte River.

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JUDGES' COMMENTS

THIS PROJECT FROM THE COLORADO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS BLENDS STRONG ARCHITECTURE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES AND A STRONG EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, INCLUDING ITS PROXIMITY TO A RIVER AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE STREET CAN'T BE OVERSTATED. THIS PROJECT SPEAKS WELL OF US AS A SOCIETY."

3rd PLACE

Medical Center of the Rockies, Loveland

Architect: JE Dunn Construction Co.

SUSTAINABLE FEATURES

* The hospital is surrounded by open space landscaped to fit the native environment and includes drought tolerant plants and wetlands.

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* Through the use of efficient heating and cooling systems the hospital uses 35 percent less energy than the average hospital.

* The team's efforts included using building materials that contained at least 20 percent recycled content and locally and regionally harvested materials. More than 75 percent of the trash generated by the project was diverted from area landfills.

* With strategic window placement and the incorporation of electrically operated window shades in the clinical laboratories, 50 percent of the lighting required for the clinical laboratories is provided through exterior windows.

OVERVIEW

Medical Center of the Rockies' healing environment embraces all 92 acres and 570, 000 square feet of the finished building. Beginning with the surrounding landscape there are multiple public and private courtyards where patients, family member and hospital staff are surrounded by native plants, roaring rivers and calming water features. The campus also incorporates nearly 2 miles of walking and biking trails. The two five-story patient towers are filled with natural light and are connected by a full height open atrium that features stacked stone fireplaces and a grand stairway.

JUDGES' COMMENTS

FEATURES WORTH NOTING INCLUDE A 30 PERCENT ENERGY SAVINGS COMPARED TO STANDARD HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION. NATURAL LIGHT, ACCESS TO FRESH AIR AND LOTS OF GOOD HEALING SPACES PROVIDE AMPLE HEALTH BENEFITS. THE ONE CONCERN WAS THE DEVELOPMENT ON A GREENFIELD SITE, BUT THE SITE DESIGN INCLUDES VERY GOOD PRESERVATION OF NATIVE ECOLOGY FOR HABITAT CREATION AND NATURAL STORM-WATER MANAGEMENT."