U.S. Courthouse, Denver
Retrofit Team
Window installer: Harmon Inc., Littleton, Colo.
Design architect: HOK, Denver
Structural engineer and blast consultant: Martin/Martin Inc., Lakewood, Colo.
Green-building consultant: Rocky Mountain Institute, Snowmass, Colo.
Materials
The 2012 window replacement was designed to preserve the building’s appearance while improving the performance and daylighting. More than 1,600 blast hazard-mitigating BHM Series windows, plus high-performance SuperWall system and custom ClearStory interior light shelves, were installed.
Windows: Wausau Window and Wall Systems
Glazing systems: Viracon Inc.
Glazing systems finisher: Linetec
The Retrofit
Owned by the U.S. General Services Administration Rocky Mountain Region 8, the courthouse received funding in 2009 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for modernization to meet current codes; seismic and progressive collapse criteria; and GSA facility requirements for acoustic privacy, security and sustainability. The project’s scope included replacing all the existing exterior windows on the courthouse and adjoining Byron G. Rogers Federal Office building, which is on schedule for completion this year.
Renovation of the historic courthouse building maintains its legacy of Modern Formalist architecture. The building will be eligible for consideration by the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.
PHOTO: Wausau Window and Wall Systems