Project to make CU warmer, cooler, greener

BOULDER — The University of Colorado is kicking off a $91.1 million project it said will efficiently heat and cool its Boulder campus while significantly cutting carbon emissions.

Work began this week on a project that will upgrade the campus power house, construct a new heating and cooling plant and install a new distribution system, according to a release from CU.

The $91.1 million project will be paid for through a combination of cash reserves and long-term debt proceeds, according to the university.

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The most substantial component is a 72,000-square-foot heating and cooling plant, called the East District Energy Plant, to be located next to the Coors Event Center. CU is pursuing LEED gold certification for the facility, and excavation work will begin this month.

Next fall, CU will start renovating the Power House, a cogeneration plant built in 1909. Equipment upgrades will allow it to generate about 50 percent of the campus’ electricity using natural gas. The waste heat will be reused to provide heating and additional electricity.

The final component is the construction of an underground piping system that will enable the delivery of chilled water needed for air conditioning, including the un-air conditioned Kittredge residences.

The construction manager and general contractor is JE Dunn Construction Co. Architecture and engineering planning was provided by LOA Architecture, P.C., Martin/Martin Inc., The RMH Group Inc. and Lutz, Daily and Brain LLC, according to the university.

FILLING A GAP: The Gap Inc. is bringing its Athleta brand to Boulder, with a 3,300-square-foot retail outlet planned to open on the Pearl Street Mall this fall.

Athleta sells performance apparel and gear for active women. The store, at 1133 Pearl St., will be Athleta’s first in Boulder.

Athleta is one of the smaller and newer brands in Gap’s lineup of retailers, which includes Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic. Athleta was launched in 1998 and acquired by San Francisco-based Gap (NYSE: GPS) in 2008.

The brand has an existing outlet in the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver and another location planned for Park Meadows Mall in Lone Tree, according to its website. Gap has opened more than 20 Athleta stores since 2011 and plans to continue adding stores throughout the year, according to its website and Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Athleta signed a long-term lease for the space formerly occupied by Outdoor Divas, according to Chris Boston, a broker with Gibbons-White. Boston and Chip Wise of Prudential Rocky Mountains represented the landlord, Barnett J. Cook Building LLC, Boston said. Christopher Burton of Legend Retail Group represented Gap.

APOTHECARY: Ananda Apothecary, a growing online retailer of essential oils, has expanded into a larger distribution center in Boulder.

Ananda Apothecary in July relocated to a 4,239-square-foot industrial space at 2555 49th St. The company sells pure organic essential oils to doctors, chiropractors, professional aromatherapists and the general public.

Ananda Apothecary ships products around the world, and the new space will allow it to keep up with growing demand. The space is not for retail sales.

Todd Walsh and Jason Kruse of The Colorado Group brokered the lease.

JUSTIN’S: Justin’s Nut Butter LLC is on the move, with a new office that’s more than double the size of the old one.

The Boulder-based nut-butter and candy maker moved to a 6,000-square-foot corporate office at 2438 30th St. on Aug. 29. The new office is two doors down from its previous 2,250-square-foot space at 2434 30th St., said Lauren Lortie, a company spokeswoman.

IMATEST: Imatest LLC, a company that produces image-quality testing software, has signed a three-year lease for 2,853 square feet at 2995 Wilderness Place. Todd Walsh of the Colorado Group represented the tenant. Brit Banks of Dean Callan & Co. represented the landlord, Wilderness One LLC.

BROOMFIELD

FORECLOSURES: August was a rough month for the owners of a few commercial properties in Broomfield that found themselves in foreclosure.

The most significant property to be foreclosed was the 110,000-square-foot office building at 10901 W. 120th Ave. The building, called Eldorado Ridge 3, overlooks Interlocken.

The property’s owners — listed as El Dorado Ridge III LLC, KPAT LLC, Steven James, KAC Development I LLC and Carolyn D. Slobe on bankruptcy documents — owe nearly $11.8 million on loans, according to the Broomfield public trustee’s office.

Broomfield Professional Campus LLC also received a notice for the 26 corporate condos it owns at the Broomfield Professional Campus at 3301 and 3305 W. 144th Ave. The company owes more than $2.9 million in loan payments.

LAFAYETTE

NEW JAX: The owner of JAX Mercantile Inc., an outdoor gear and ranch and farm products retailer based outside Fort Collins, has closed on the purchase of its new retail space in Lafayette.

Lafayette Plaza LLC paid $2.8 million for the Lafayette Plaza shopping center, according to Boulder County property records.

The limited-liability company was formed by JAX Mercantile owner Jim Quinlan. JAX Mercantile announced earlier this month it will open a 40,000-square-foot store at the plaza, which is at 400 W. South Boulder Road.

The new store, to be named JAX Ranch and Home, will carry a selection of hardware, work and western wear, and equine, pet and agricultural products. JAX Ranch and Home is scheduled to be open by Nov. 1.

JAX Mercantile owns the 33,000-square-foot JAX Outdoor Gear store at 900 S. U.S. Highway 287 in Lafayette. The existing Lafayette store will sell outdoor clothing, footwear, camping, hunting, fishing and military surplus items.

Willow River Markets LLLP is listed on the warranty deed as the seller. The property was foreclosed on in February, with foreclosure documents showing the company owed about $2.6 million to creditors. Willow River Markets paid $4.7 million for the property in July 2004, according to the Boulder County Assessor’s Office.

The building previously was occupied by Flatirons Community Church, which has since moved to 355 W. South Boulder Road.

SUPERIOR

ARTICLE ONE: Article One Partners has signed a new long-term lease for a 2,700-square foot office at 500 Discovery Parkway in Superior. Building owner Aweida Properties Inc. was represented by Chris Boston of Gibbons-White Inc. Jim Howser of Gibbons-White represented the tenant.

Beth Potter and Doug Storum contributed to this story. Michael Davidson can be reached at 303-630-1943 or mdavidson@bcbr.com.