Semple Brown Design has completed the
Gates Family Foundation's new headquarters in the historic Hover Building at 1390 Lawrence St.
The 7,800-square-foot office space preserves the historic nature of the building’s architecture while complying with the standards required for a LEED Gold Commercial Interiors rating.
Wiring and mechanical systems are largely concealed within the historic shell and a raised hides 90 percent of electrical and technology systems.
"A significant portion of the foundation’s work involves support for conservation and natural resource stewardship in Colorado, and we are a capital funder of many nonprofit and community facilities," says Tom Gougeon, President of the Gates Family Foundation. "We always encourage grantees to employ green and sustainable and practices, so LEED Gold certification for our space seemed appropriate -- we felt we could create an efficient, sustainable and contemporary set of improvements that worked well with the historic character of the building."
Sustainable strategies include independent HVAC controls in each office, water-efficient plumbing fixtures and LED lighting. The foundation also commissioned two local woodworkers to craft their conference room table, kitchen table and chairs from an ancient ponderosa pine found on the Gates family homestead near Evergreen. The tree had been weakened by beetles and fell during high winds.
A 400-square-foot rooftop penthouse addition and a 2,000-square-foot deck offer panoramic views of the Front Range and downtown Denver.
Contact Confluence Denver Development News Editor Margaret Jackson with tips and leads for future stories at margaret@confluence-denver.com.
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