Denver Office Building Earns LEED Platinum

DENVER — 1800 Larimer, the Denver Central Business District’s first high-rise office in more than 25 years, has been awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The certification makes 1800 Larimer one of the first high-rise office buildings in the United States — and the largest west of the Mississippi River — to receive LEED Platinum status. In addition, the property is the first building in Colorado to be awarded LEED Platinum certification based on the LEED Core/Shell version 2.0, which has more stringent requirements than earlier versions.

Completed in May 2010, 1800 Larimer boasts advanced technology, using state-of-the-art systems and design features, which provide a healthier, more productive business environment.

Developed by Westfield of Century City, Calif., designed by architectural firm RNL of Denver, and built by Mortenson Construction, based in Minneapolis, the building is a 500,000-square-foot glass-clad high-rise. The 22-story building is 80 percent leased and is the regional headquarters for Xcel Energy. Frederick Ross Company, Apartment Realty Advisors, Westfield Company and Citywide Banks are also tenants.
"1800 Larimer is a great addition to Denver’s skyline and its LEED Platinum certification is a significant achievement, not only for Westfield, but also for Denver and the city’s Greenprint program," said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper in a statement. "The building will serve as a model for future development as demand for green buildings grows. It beautifully illustrates how tenants can save money on their utilities while reducing their environmental impact."

"1800 Larimer represents how leading edge building design can help create a healthful, high-performing, and environmentally-sound workplace – what most tenants will require in the future. Westfield is proud to have achieved the highest LEED certification and we believe that 1800 Larimer is the standard for next generation office buildings,” added Rich McClintock, Westfield’s chief executive officer, in a statement.

The building was certified under the USGBC LEED Core/Shell 2.0 designation based on six categories, achieving a total of 47 points. Stormwater design integrates a 100-year flood level storage tank that collects and slowly releases storm runoff into the regional system after being filtered for undesirable sediments. Additionally, a reduced heat island effect is achieved through use of high SRI (solar reflection index) materials on all horizontal surfaces including the roof and the outdoor terrace covering a majority of the parking garage.
"We were able to consolidate three offices into the building, so there are definitely efficiencies for us. But the appeal of 1800 Larimer was also the prospect of moving into a LEED Platinum office tower,” David Eves, president and CEO of Public Service Co. of Colorado, Xcel Energy’s operating company in the state, said in a statement. “We wanted to have an office building and space that reinforces the environmental commitment that we have as a company, and we have achieved that."