DENVER – Dairy Block – Denver’s newest micro-district in the heart of Lower Downtown – is pleased to announce that it has been awarded LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for the newly constructed buildings now open in the redevelopment project.
Developed by McWHINNEY, Sage Hospitality and Grand American, Inc., the new buildings at Dairy Block opened this spring include a six-story office tower that features the Denver headquarters for McWHINNEY, industrial real estate firm ProLogis, the national headquarters for Italian fast-casual chain Romano’s Macaroni Grill, the downtown Denver office of Equus Software and Cuvee, a luxury lifestyle and travel company. California’s CTRL Collective shared workspace will move in this fall. And, the uniquely contemporary and art forward 172-room The Maven Hotel.
Three large historic buildings on the LoDo block – which runs from 18th and 19th between Blake and Wazee Streets and once housed Denver’s Windsor Dairy – will open later this year as home to an eclectic mix of retailers, restaurants and cocktail crafters, with all concepts opening onto a one-of-a-kind pedestrian Alley. A few of Dairy Block’s retail tenants will be Roost by Denver Flea, a coffee and retail market by Huckleberry Roasters, a Perfect Petal flower shop and a Seven Grand whiskey bar.
The new Dairy Block buildings were awarded LEED points, resulting in LEED Gold, for implementing a variety of green initiatives, including:
- The use of energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems
- The use of sustainable materials during construction
- More than 20 percent of Dairy Block construction materials were manufactured within 500 miles of downtown Denver and more than 15 percent of materials contain recycled content
- The sustainable location of the building, including easy access to public transportation at Denver Union Station and bike paths, with bike storage provided for office tenants
- The indoor air quality and use of daylight to reduce lighting costs, with views from 90% of the floor areas and occupancy sensors
- Water conservation and reduced-use mechanisms, including low-flow fixtures installed throughout
- An innovative white roof design that helps to offset the effects of a heat island
“Dairy Block is dedicated to being respectful of our historic LoDo location, while also embracing green design and building practices to create a unique urban destination for our beloved city of Denver,” said McWHINNEY Co-Founder and CEO Chad McWhinney.
Colorado’s Saunders Construction, Inc. is serving as the General Contractor for the construction of the new buildings at Dairy Block.
“Our future only benefits from building efficient and healthy places to live, work and play. Dairy Block is a great example of how to accomplish this with both new and reimagined buildings with such different functions,” said Justin Cooper, vice president of Saunders Construction. “It’s part of our organization’s strategic focus to implement sustainable business and building practices. We’re thrilled to have collaborated with McWHINNEY, the City and County of Denver, and our design and trade partners on Dairy Block to see that come to fruition.”
Image Courtesy of McWHINNEY.
