Colorado Safety-Net Hospital Wins LEED Certification

DENVER — Colorado’s primary safety-net healthcare institution was awarded LEED Silver certification for its new $58 million women and children’s facility that opened in August 2006.

Designed by Colorado architectural firm Boulder Associates, the 218,000-square-foot Denver Health Pavilion for Women and Children adds 107 beds to the 500-bed, level one acute-care hospital complex.

Boulder Associates was part of the team that designed the Boulder Community Foothills Hospital, which was the first hospital in the United States to be awarded LEED certification following its opening in 2003.

Environmentally sustainable design components and systems allowed the PWC facility to realize energy consumption economies of approximately 19 percent compared to similar noncertified hospital buildings, officials say.

Energy-efficient appliances were incorporated throughout the facility and an energy-efficient air filtration system combines mechanical, electrostatic and ionization technologies to enhance indoor air quality. Low-VOC paints, adhesives and surface and flooring were also used.

Water- and irrigation-management systems and landscaping strategies achieved significant reductions in water consumption and have reduced exterior water use by 55 percent. Thermal and acoustic insulation throughout the facility was manufactured from 85 percent recycled denim fiber, while reflective roofing materials were utilized to reduce the heat island effect and enhance energy efficiency and comfort.

Construction materials for the project were composed of more than 40 percent recycled content, and 52 percent of waste generated during construction was recycled. More than 50 percent of the wood incorporated into the facility was FSC-certified sustainably forested lumber and more than 50 percent of project materials and products were locally sourced.

The pavilion, which was designed to deliver up to 4,500 babies per year, features labor and delivery facilities, perinatal and neonatal intensive care units, inpatient pediatrics, comprehensive clinic space and a pharmacy.

Denver health, which serves approximately 25 percent of residents in the metropolitan area, also operates a network of eight family health centers and 12 school-based health centers throughout the city.