Construction Update: March 12, 2010

Solera Construction Tour: Friday, March 19 at 3pm. Join us for a green building presentation and a walking tour of the building. Please send us an email to reserve your space.

The building’s exterior metal panel siding and stucco are currently being installed. The high roof insulation and full roofing membrane are being installed. The building is now enclosed and fully weather proofed on the 3rd and 4th floors with dry wall in those units underway now underway. Transition from temporary power to the building’s permanent power is occurring. The tower crane has been removed and the penetrations where the crane had been have now been filled – making the building nearly fully weather-tight.

Read more...

Apartment Trends: Lobby for A Good Cause

If the exterior of a building is like the cover of a book, then the lobby is the introduction/table of contents. It tells you what to expect, sets the tone, and helps you decide whether you want to read further. A well-designed lobby can make a positive first impression and communicate the value of the development, while creating a functional common space. Lately more and more apartment/condo developers are paying close attention to the lobby as a key component to the overall building’s design and personality.

Solera’s lobby design was inspired by the feel of a hotel or coffee shop, meant to draw people in and make them feel welcome. The lobby will include a comfortable seating area and “Mac bar” with four Mac computers at stationary desks to encourage surfing and lobby socializing. A complimentary coffee/tea service, managed by the leasing office, will occupy a central location in the room.

To prevent the common folly of outdated design, finishes will feature a mature color palette rather than a trendy one to create an enduring feel. The message of sustainability will continue through the lobby in the selection of finishes. In this way, the lobby is an extension of the apartments themselves and showcases what to expect in each home.

Rather than hiding building staff from tenants, as is typical in rental lobbies, Solera’s management and leasing staff will be immediately available at the front desk located in the lobby. This desk will function as a "concierge-type" desk staffed to provide increased service to tenants, such as holding packages, dry cleaning, and managing all maintenance and leasing services.

Of course form must follow function in an important space such as this. Tenants can access mailboxes directly across from the elevators. In addition to open seating areas, a ground floor conference room can be reserved for tenant private use. This space will enable tenants to hold professional meetings or private gatherings, ideal for the tele-commuter or the active community member. A small kitchen will also be located in the lobby for use by tenants and social functions the leasing staff organizes.

From the first step inside, apartment/condo buildings should catch your attention and give you a taste of what the homes have to offer. When done correctly, the lobby can create opportunities for socializing, emphasize the benefits of community living, and make tenants and guests feel welcome and involved. We plan for Solera’s entryway to do just that.

Once the “introduction” has caught your eye, you’ll be much more likely to see where it goes from there. It might be a novel idea, but without a doubt, intentional lobbies are the newest trend.

Read more...

LoDo and Ballpark Serving Up Some of Denver’s Best Restaurants

Our December blog focused on the many popular holiday events just minutes from Solera’s downtown apartments, but for Solera tenants, easy access to Denver hot spots is a year-round benefit.

The Mile High City boasts a flourishing restaurant scene, and Solera is lucky to be near many top eateries in Denver. We’ve compiled a list of stops you’ll want to hit up on a regular basis:

Snooze: 2262 Larimer St.

Winning Best Breakfast/Brunch in 5280 magazine for three consecutive years, Channel 7’s A-List in 2008 and 2009, and a Mayor’s Design Award in 2007, it’s no wonder that Snooze has created quite the buzz (and we don’t mean the sound of your alarm.) This A.M. eatery serves beautiful and flavorful breakfast fare, making each dish not only the most important meal of the day, but the most delicious as well. With hours from 6:30am-2:30pm Monday-Friday and 7:00am to 2:30pm Saturday and Sunday, you can either get your day going early or stroll in for a post sleep-in pancake. Either way, you’ll be welcomed by a fun, fresh atmosphere to kick your day off right.

Hi*Rise: 2162 Larimer St.

Another morning/early afternoon joint, Hi*Rise is a must-visit bakery, deli and café in the Ballpark neighborhood. The inclusive menu features everything from artisan breads, bagels and sandwiches to seasonal salads, sweet treats and locally roasted coffee. All of the breads, pastries, and sweets are made from scratch every day. And for those on a gluten-free regimen, Hi*Rise offers breads and sandwiches sans gluten to satisfy those needs. Open Monday through Saturday from 6:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from 7:00am to 3:00pm, Hi*Rise is at your service for most of the day, and even delivers! We also hear they make a tasty cupcake, as proved by their two awards at Gabby Gourmet’s Cupcake testing and an award for Best Cupcake at the Taste of Colorado. Yum!

Marco's Coal Fired Pizza: 2129 Larimer St.

If you’re looking for service, style, and some of the best pizza you’ve ever had, Marco’s Coal Fired Pizza is the place to go. Winner of the Mayor’s Design Award for the category “Buildings that Beckon,” Marco’s creates a trattoria-style atmosphere that is both elegant and fun, with an attentive staff and exposed pizza kitchen so you can follow your order from the oven to the table. A 5280 favorite, Marco’s was awarded Top of the Town for the categories Top Pizza and Top Meatball Sandwich. They were also noted as one of 5280’s Best New Restaurants in 2008. Stop by Sunday through Thursday from 11:00am to 10:00pm or Friday and Saturday from 11:00 am to 11:00pm.

twelve restaurant: 2233 Larimer St.

An instant favorite among many, twelve restaurant (and yes, the lowercase is intentional) earned the Readers Choice award in Westword’s 2009 “Best of” under the categories Best New Restaurant and Best New American Restaurant. Serving dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30pm to 10:00pm, twelve features globally influenced and seasonally inspired cuisine with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Make sure to stop by often to see what’s new, because, as the name implies, twelve restaurant changes its menu monthly meaning twelve new and exciting dining experiences each year.

When the evening rolls around, it’s time to hit the downtown bars for happy hour or late night events. If you’re looking for an active party scene, you might hit up Market Street between 19th and 20th. Home of Lodo’s Bar and Grill, Giggling Grizzly, The Tavern Downtown, Theorie and Cowboy Lounge, this strip is full of life on the weekends. Lodo’s is open 7 days a week from 11:00am to 2:00am and always has events going on throughout the month, whether it’s Super Bowl parties, Keggs and Eggs or Brunch and Build your own Bloody Mary bars.

If you’re looking for a more laid back scene or maybe some live music, head over to Larimer St. between 20th and 21st. Check out Scruffy Murphy’s, Herb’s Hideout and the Ginn Mill after catching a show at the Marquis Theatre. The Denver Cruisers, a local bike club, meets at the Gin Mill every Wednesday night at 7:00pm in warm seasons to ride to the local bars with other Cruiser lovers and enjoy a low-key atmosphere. Scruffy Murphy’s also hosts nightly events such as Punk Rock Mondays, Geeks who Drink, open mic sessions and live music.

Other great (and close!) places to visit include the Great Divide Brewery for monthly events, Pacific Mercantile for authentic Asian grocery shopping, and Twentieth Street Café for a great meal morning, noon and night.

There are countless options nearby when living downtown, regardless of the time of day or mood you’re in. Grab pancakes, coffee, and pastries in the morning. Swing by for an award-winning meatball sandwich at lunch. Make reservations for a globally influenced meal at dinner. And then hit the bars to celebrate a long and successful day.

Solera encourages urban dwellers to support the local restaurants and shops within blocks of their homes and to take advantage of the places that give Denver its fantastic reputation.

From the options we’ve pointed out, it’ll be a job both fulfilling and filling.

Read more...

Indoor Air Quality: Take a deep breath; it may not be as clean as you thought.

Did you know that it is estimated that people spend up to 90% of their time indoors? Did you also know that the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor pollutant levels may run two to five times higher than outdoor air?

These facts of course make the materials utilized in building construction and the mechanical systems that process indoor air essential to occupant health. Unfortunately, though, many buildings, new and old, do not pay enough attention to the quality of materials utilized or the cleanliness of building mechanical systems and their respective impacts on indoor air quality. Not surprisingly, it is estimated that 2% of all office workers suffer from some type of Sick Building Syndrome.

LEED-certified office buildings have been found to be a healthier work place, with decreased absenteeism and increased productivity. Though there aren’t nearly as many LEED-certified residential buildings as LEED office buildings, it’s likely that, in time, research will show that people are healthier and less often sick in LEED-certified homes, just as documented in LEED-certified office buildings.  

At Solera steps are being taken now, during construction, to protect the building’s indoor air quality. All air ducts being installed are covered and sealed to protect the mechanical system from construction debris and dust. When the mechanical system is used during construction, which will be kept to a minimum and will only occur in building corridors, high density filters will be used. These air filters will be replaced frequently and of course prior to move-in. Also steps are being taken during construction to reduce the production of air pollution by restricting idling vehicles, timing the installation of porous materials to protect them from air pollution and exhausting sources of indoor air pollution to
the exterior.

Did you know that that new car smell is actually bad for you? That’s because new car interiors are made of materials that are high in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are known for off-gassing irritants that are hazardous for occupant health. That’s why at Solera we’re selecting only healthy materials – that are low in VOC content - to ensure the indoor air of Solera is a high quality. Paints, sealants/adhesives, carpets and wood will all be made of little to no off-gassing VOC materials; a precaution that few other buildings take.

Read more...

The Support of Bike Parking

As has been described in an earlier Solera blog post, the LEED scorecard devotes a portion of the available credits to issues related to a project’s location. These credits are part of the Sustainable Sites category and deal with topics such as proximity to transit, stormwater management and the heat island effect of the project. Also in this category is the amount of bicycle parking the project provides. The LEED scorecard awards a point when a project provides covered bike parking for at least 15% of the building residents (for a commercial buildings other standards apply).

To meet this credit (Sustainable Site Credit 4.2) the Solera project would need to provide at least 40 bike parking spaces. In actuality, the Solera project is more than doubling the bike storage requirement by providing 106 total bicycle racks located within the building parking garages. All bike racks include an integrated security cable and will be individually assigned to residential units. Because Solera will also have ground-floor retail space, USGBC requires that the project meet the commercial standard of this credit as well. To do this, Solera will provide bike parking for 5% of the retail occupants; occupancy is determined by calculating one occupant per 550 square feet of space. These bicycle parking spots will be located in the retail parking space and be assigned to retail staff.

As a complement to the bike storage, Solera is including a bike maintenance room for resident and retail occupant use. This space will be outfitted with bike maintenance supplies and will provide additional bike parking space for residents.

Beyond LEED requirements, the Solera location is particularly suitable for bicycle commuting and enjoyment. The building is located on one of Denver’s main urban bicycle lanes, Lawrence Street. This dedicated bike lane connects the downtown core with Denver’s two main bike path arteries that run along local rivers: the South Platte River bike trail and the Cherry Creek bike path. These paths are highly utilized for both recreational and bike-commute purposes and connect the urban core with surrounding Denver communities. Living at Solera could make bike commuting to many surrounding employment locations a real possibility - and with the ample bike parking and bike maintenance room onsite there’s no reason not to.

Read more...

Preventing Pollution: The How and Why

In a previous post the Solera team discussed the huge impact of construction waste on landfills nationwide; such waste generates 40% of total landfill waste annually. This type of waste includes unused portions of brick, concrete, wood and steel. USGBC recognizes the importance of actively recycling instead of landfilling this waste by awarding up to three credits on the LEED scorecard for this topic. Another credit that also addresses issues of onsite waste but operating on a much smaller level is the prerequisite Construction Activity Pollution Prevention.

As a prerequisite, this credit is mandatory for all LEED projects rather than voluntary like the majority of credits – there are seven total prerequisites in the New Construction scorecard. The intent of this prerequisite credit is to reduce the pollution that construction projects create by controlling three areas of common pollution generators: soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust. In order to comply with this credit, projects must create a Pollution Prevention Plan that all construction staff follow.

At Solera the following steps are being taken to meet this LEED prerequisite:

• To prevent sedimentation from entering the storm sewer the project:

1. Is using an Eco-Pan system which cleans all “cementitious” i.e. concrete material, from vehicles before they exit the project site; the material is then recycled with other concrete
2. Erected a silt fence at the perimeter of the property to retain sediment on the project and prevent soil erosion
3. Uses straw wattles at storm sewers

• To reduce airborne dust a vehicle tracking control area with 15 tons of recycled concrete was installed at the point of access of all construction vehicles entering and exiting the site. This system minimizes the amount of dust and particulate matter that is generated and reduces the spread of construction debris into the street and storm sewer.

• Topsoil that was previously located on the project was cleaned and removed prior to the start of construction. In most cases this soil was reused on other projects in the Denver area.

The combination of these measures is helping to reduce the pollution the Solera project generates. In the City and County of Denver, code requires these measures for any projects over an acre. Due to Solera’s project size, less than an acre, Zocalo is performing these mitigating measures due to it LEED goals, illustrating how LEED projects go beyond code and help to protect the surrounding environment down to the level of a project’s treatment of dust and sediment.

Read more...

When Less is More: The Benefits of Downsizing

While the concept of downsizing is often linked with retirees and empty-nesters, the changing economy is driving a new crowd toward cozier living. Whether looking for lowered housing costs, a shorter commute or less clutter, buyers and renters are shedding their excess and returning to the basics.

Aside from the obvious advantages of less “stuff”, downsizing one’s living space has proven financially beneficial. A downsized home typically means downsized utility bills due to less heating and cooling. The growing trend toward LEED-certified/sustainable homes enhances these lowered costs, with minimal energy waste and more efficient appliances and mechanical systems. Of course a smaller home, utility costs aside, also means a smaller mortgage or rental rates. The market has reacted accordingly: A recent Home Builders’ Association survey suggests that 59% of builders are planning significantly smaller houses.

In addition to saving money on home-related costs, people are downsizing to save on costs associated with commuting. By downsizing, many people are able to move closer to work, cutting down on transportation costs as well as commute time. Apart from work commutes, shops, restaurants, and services that were once a lengthy drive away can become within walking or biking distance of a downsized home. Downsizing can give people the freedom to choose the perfect location, which, when done right, can drastically reduce travel expenses.

Downsizing doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort or luxury. Instead, people are simply maximizing their living space and getting rid of unnecessary rooms that just accumulate unused furniture. Moving away from the “super-size me” mentality, people are embracing the simplicity of a practical and centrally-located home that allows for greater savings and less fuss.

In this case, less is definitely more.

Read more...

“I prefer walkable cities”

"What's their Walkability Score?"

Just a few years ago, would you have thought a building could have a walkability score? A number of years before that, would you have guessed people would be choosing to live where their feet replace the car? Well all that has changed. Whether due to concern for the environment or the desire to live more like they do in Sex in the City, people across the country are now looking for places to live that allow them to get out and walk to their favorite spots, to meet up with friends and even to get to work.

Here in Denver the ability to use your feet to get around is fast becoming the thing to do. Ranked within the top ten Most Walkable US Cities by Walkscore.com, Denver shares this walkable title with other cities such as Portland, New York and Seattle.

Solera Apartments, located in downtown Denver, is a place that helps Denver achieve its top ten ranking. With a score of 92 out of 100, Solera is deemed a “Walkers’ Paradise.” Four blocks east of Coors Field and five blocks north of Denver’s central business district, living at Solera will make walking a genuine and practical option for getting around.

You also won’t be alone – Denver’s downtown neighborhoods of Lower Downtown (“LoDo”), Central Business District and Ballpark now boast a collective population of over 7,000 residents. This means that the Solera building is joining an already bustling community. As a renter at Solera, you get to be in the newest building of the downtown Denver bunch.

Read more...