As the top U.S. state in 2019 for LEED-certified green building, Colorado has a strong commitment to the sustainability and health of its communities. In working to advance green building for its state, USGBC Colorado celebrates the people and projects leading the way in achieving these goals.

In March, Eaton Street Apartments was awarded LEED Silver for its achievement in a previously developed site in downtown Westminster, Colorado. The first apartments to open in the city’s successor to the Westminster Mall, the complex comprises 118 affordable housing units, six two-bedroom townhomes and 21,000 square feet of street-level retail space.

Access to a healthy environment

The building’s location gives residents walkable access to essential services, stores and multiple bus routes. A healthy home environment has been created with outdoor views; low-emitting flooring, paints, adhesives and sealants; a no-smoking policy; and indoor air quality measures taken during construction. Quality building performance was ensured through attention to thermal and lighting system controllability, improved thermal comfort design and enhanced commissioning of building systems.

In addition to achievements in health-related credits and affordability, the project earned innovation credits and regional priority credits related to community connectivity. View the LEED scorecard.

Working with an aspirational vision for an economically and environmentally healthy community, the city of Westminster has developed a strategic plan to improve access to affordable housing and sustainable resources for its residents.

Herb Atchison, mayor of Westminster, noted the importance of increasing affordable housing in the city, telling the Westminster Window newspaper, “I will challenge all other 39 mayors in the metro area to get off their butts and find a way to make it happen…This is just something we have got to have. We want to ensure that the quality of life Westminster offers can be attainable by all, making our city a more vibrant community.” Read more in the news article.

Conservation of resources

The project team was able to save resources in a number of ways. Here are a few statistics:

  • Energy use reduction: 22%
  • Indoor water use reduction: 42%
  • Outdoor water use reduction: 50%
  • Regional materials used: 21%
  • Recycled content materials used: 11%

Many local firms were involved the development of this project. Mile High Development and Koebel and Company were the project’s developers. The project team included OZ Architecture, MDP Engineering, Group14 Engineering, Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers and Norris Design. The general contractor was Milender White.

Want to learn more about Colorado’s LEED-certified projects? View the project directory.

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