Denver’s Union Station Redevelopment Project

The Union Station redevelopment project has played a significant role in Denver’s downtown revitalization and is quickly becoming a popular destination for fine dining, entertainment and shopping.  The focal point of the large project is the Denver Union Station, which reopened in July 2014 after years of planning and hard work, and to the cost of nearly $500 million.  The multi-modal hub is for bus, light rail, commuter rail and Amtrak and was designed to accommodate pedestrians and commuters.

The project got its start in 2001 when RTD purchased Union Station and the surrounding site from the Denver Union Terminal Railway Corporation.  It is a jointly-funded agreement between RTD, the Denver Union Station Project Authority, the Colorado Department of Transportation and others to form the Partner Agencies.  The master plan included remodeling the building and developing the 19.5 acre site as “a multi-modal transportation network with transit-oriented private development.”  The project was approved by the voters in 2004 as the FasTracks program.   

The ambitious project has caught the interest of transportation developers around the world for the contemporary design and emphasis on commuter-friendly transit.  The Union Station building contains 14 new restaurants and retail shops as well as the luxurious Crawford Hotel.  The redevelopment project also includes 25 new construction projects in the area of which many are completed or set to be done in the next year or two.  Once everything is complete, the area will have an addition of 2,100 housing units and two million square feet of office space. 

The Conco Companies provided the concrete services for the tallest building constructed in the Union Station neighborhood.  The Platform, a 21-story luxury apartment building, includes 288 apartment units, 260 parking spaces, and approximately 7,000 SF of retail space.  Conco broke ground in early 2013 and the project was completed in 2014.

Sources: 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_%28Denver,_Colorado%29

denver.cbslocal.com/2014/04/28/denvers-union-station-renovation-watched-around-the-world/

Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise and unsurpassed quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development.

The Revitalization of Downtown LA

The Wall Street Journal reported in April 2014 that downtown LA has gone from “grimy to glitzy” over the last decade or so.  They note that what was once a cultural wasteland, the downtown is undergoing a revitalization that includes million-dollar condos, boutique shopping and stylish dining.  Some of the growth is due to L.A. Live, which has played a big part in bringing people back downtown for sporting and concerts events. 

In a Downtown News article, they state that, “The development boom in Downtown Los Angeles is hitting a new level: Not only are projects being built, but they are going vertical. In other words, the Central City is literally on an upswing.”  One example is the new Wilshire Grand Center that is being constructed in LA’s downtown financial district.  It is located a few blocks from the U.S. Bank Tower, which had been the tallest building in the area, and will become the tallest building west of the Mississippi.  Once complete the 73-story Wilshire will be 1,100 feet tall including the spire.

Other new projects in the downtown area include the 33-story Onni Tower that is almost complete and the under construction multi-tower Metropolis, near L.A. Live.  Also a 22-story condominium complex at 1050 S. Grand Ave. in South Park just broke ground.  Furthermore, there are many projects in the planning stages.   

The Conco Companies are doing all of the structural concrete work on the new Wilshire Grand.  For the project, Conco broke the Guinness World Record by completing the largest, continuous mat pour at the site.  The pour took 21,200 cubic yards, or 82 million pounds, of concrete and was done in just 18 ½ hours.  We also purchased and are using a new state-of-the art electric pump to pump concrete 400 ft. horizontally and then 1,000 ft. vertically to reach the upper levels of the Wilshire tower. 

Source:  wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303532704579477374278821010

ladowntownnews.com/development/downtown-development-the-latest-info-on-projects/article_2a053130-bb96-11e4-9594-bf648964a1c6.html

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services serving California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado.  We have built our reputation with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience. 

Our Extensive Portfolio Includes Sporting and Entertainment Venues

At The Conco Companies, we have a lot of experience in the construction of sporting and entertainment venues.  Our portfolio in public arenas includes being awarded the full concrete contract for the San Francisco 49ers Levi Stadium, the cast in place concrete for the San Francisco Giants ballpark (AT & T Park) and the foundation package for the HP Pavilion (Shark Tank).  In addition we did all cast in place concrete for the LA Live complex and ancillary structures for the Seattle Seahawks Stadium. 

For the Levi Stadium project, we placed slabs in excess of 2,000,000 square feet and used more than 65,000 cubic yards of concrete.  In order to meet the ambitious timeline to complete the foundation, Conco worked on four separate areas simultaneously. The same approach was taken for the multiple deck pours.

The AT & T Park, originally opened in 2000 under the name of Pacific Bell Park, is the first MLB facility to receive LEED Silver certification.  Our job consisted of doing the entire cast in place concrete for the 41, 503 seat stadium.  The privately funded park cost $255 million to build and was designed by the architectural firm of HOK Sport.  Construction Managers were Huber, Hunt & Nichols, Inc. and Kajima Construction Services. 

We were also awarded the foundation contract for the SAP Center that is now the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.  The cost to build the multi-use indoor arena was $162.5 million and has a seating capacity of 19,190.  The architect on the project was Sink Combs Dethlefs and Construction Manager was Huber, Hunt & Nichols.  

Another project that we are extremely proud of is the LA Live complex.  Conco’s contribution on that project was to build the two-story below-grade parking structure that provides the structural support for the complex.  One of the several awards the project received for design and construction elements was the Excellence in Concrete Award from the American Concrete Institute – Southern California Chapter. 

When your project demands exceptional services and the best value, Conco can deliver. We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have four region offices serving California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget.

The Trend Toward Mix-use Development

The Conco Companies have provided concrete services for many modern apartment and mixed-use buildings located in easy walking distances from shopping, jobs, entertainment and transportation.  Many mixed-use plans focus on building community settings that are like small towns within larger urban cities and emphasize walkability and available transportation.  The intention of these projects is not to separate residential and business areas as it was traditionally done but to integrate the two.  

Not only is it more “green” to eliminate or reduce people’s need for long commutes but it is also healthier and often less stressful.  The goal of many mixed-use projects is for individuals to be able to walk to work or to public transportation while living close to restaurants, grocery stores and cultural and entertainment venues. 

Mixed-use plans not only appeal to consumers to also can help to lessen some of the risks involved in large project.  As an example if a hotel also builds luxury condominiums as part of the project, the sale of the condominiums can help to offset some of the cost of the hotel.  Likewise if a hotel includes an entertainment venue, the income generated from the events also helps to reduce some of the cost of the hotel. 

One example of Conco’s participation in a mixed-use project is the Riverfront, in downtown Napa, CA.   The Venetian-style building is a development of 50 residential condos, 30,000 sq. ft. of office space, and 40,000 sq. ft. of retail.  The Riverfront area is a popular hotspot for foodies and high-end restaurants.  

Another project that Conco was a part of is 815 Pines, a new 40-story apartment building adjacent to the historic Paramount Theatre. The apartment is in the middle of Seattle’s vibrant downtown and close to the Rapid Ride Transit and Seattle’s retail core. The building consists of 325 apartments, 276 parking stalls, and a restaurant and retail at the ground floor to cater to the theatre clientele.  

Finished just last year, the Platform, another Conco project, is right next to the historic Union Station in downtown Denver. The project included 288 apartment units, 260 parking spaces, and approximately 7,000 SF of retail space.

Source: 

blog.enggroupe.com/trends-in-mixed-use-development/

sajebuild.com/trends-in-hotel-building-mixed-use-plans/

Conco’s mission is to be the best supplier of concrete services in the Western United States and to bring expertise and unsurpassed quality to each project. We continue to upgrade and expand facilities to better serve the growing market for public works projects, commercial, parking structures, educational, and other construction development.