During a building boom, Denver has tightened its codes and regulations on certain types of development, and the moves have widespread support, according to a Denver Post columnist.
Though developers worry that “forced beautification” slows progress and adds cost, and architects fear that standards restrict their creativity, the aesthetics of recent projects seem to have broad acceptance. For example, a large project in the Cherry Creek area is considered a fine model for future neighborhood development.
The project used “genuine” materials, created retail spaces that are lively and transparent to keep the visuals interesting, and public plazas were built to human scale common to a low-rise area.
Denver now has about 20 neighborhoods, including historic areas, and large developments where new projects face mandatory review by the planning department. Only about 15% of the city’s total land area is subject to these reviews, however. Developers say the reviews must be timely and conducted by qualified staff for them to be effective.
Related Stories
| Jan 31, 2013
More severe wind storms should prompt nationwide reexamination of building codes, says insurance expert
The increased number and severity of storms with high winds nationally should prompt a reexamination of building codes in every community, says Mory Katz, vice president, Verisk Insurance Solutions Commercial Property, Jersey City, N.J.
| Jan 31, 2013
California Building Standards Commission adopts 2013 code update
The California Building Standards Commission adopted the new 2013 state standards code that includes new energy code provisions, accessibility standards, green building and water use modifications.
| Jan 25, 2013
D.C. authority wants to halt sewer tunnel projects while investigating green stormwater alternatives
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority has proposed suspending a tunnel-building project.
| Jan 25, 2013
Energy modeling needed to overcome ‘plug load problem’ to meet high green standards
Plug loads illustrate how much end-users impact overall building energy use.
| Jan 25, 2013
ASHRAE publishes revised filtration standard, combines Standard 52.1 and 52.2
A newly revised filtration standard from ASHRAE combines two standards aimed at improving the technical accuracy of filter testing.
| Jan 25, 2013
AISC 206-13 standard for structural steel erectors available for review
AISC 206-13, a quality management system standard for structural steel erectors, is now available for public review.
| Jan 25, 2013
Builders Hardware Manufacturers Assn. revises five ANSI hardware standards
The Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) has released five revisions to ANSI/BHMA standards recently been approved by ANSI (American National Standards Institute).
| Jan 16, 2013
Pentagon plans huge spending cuts, including construction funds, amid budget deadlock fears
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has ordered cuts to military spending as a precaution in case the White House and Congress fail to agree to avert $52 billion in cuts to the Pentagon budget this year.
| Jan 16, 2013
GSA's Green Proving Ground program pushes energy efficiency
The General Services Administration, which manages a portfolio of almost 10,000 buildings, is using the Green Proving Ground program to test technological advances in energy efficiency.
| Jan 16, 2013
Standards that include reflective roofs must take into account local climate
Roofs painted white can reflect heat and reduce warm-weather energy use, but in cooler regions like Minneapolis or Chicago, the issue of energy-efficiency is less straightforward.
