Shanen Named Principal

This past January Shanen, a 15 year Design Concepts veteran, joined founding Principals Axel and Robby and managing Principal Carol as the firm’s newest Principal.

Shanen first joined the DC team in 1994, having graduated from Colorado State University where an interest in art and Earth sciences led her to landscape architecture—a field in which she found she could combine the two. She has since cultivated an enthusiasm for horticulture and design with plants.

Throughout her career here Shanen has developed a passion for park and playground design, where she has been able to incorporate children and education into natural environments. When asked to cite specific projects for which she and DC have done this, Shanen is quick to name Centennial Park in Rifle. Centennial Park’s phase two includes plans for a playground which will carry themes of time and history. Willow Farm Park in Longmont also integrates a historical theme.

Shanen’s next big project is the renovation of Adams 12 School District’s campuses. DC has already created the master plans and construction documents for the renovation. As tax funding has been put on hold Shanen is now working with schools to target specific components of play equipment and play areas to meet new district standards until new bond initiatives make more money available for the planned complete renovation.

In her new role as a Principal Shanen looks forward to helping Carol manage the firm. As Design Concepts evolves and transitions to coming generations and the founders look toward the future of the company, Shanen feels that with her, Carol, and others moving forward the firm is being placed safely into the hands of people who share the firm’s founding ethics and values.

Virtual Arboretum: Westlands Park

We just added Westlands Park, an award-winning Design Concepts project in Greenwood Village, to our Virtual Arboretum. The park is looking great and the trees are happy happy! Visit our website for maps, directions, and more information.

Targeting Colorado's Renewable Future

For a long time we've believed that Colorado has a target on it for becoming a development center for renewable energy.  On Tuesday President Barack Obama will sign the Economic Stimulus bill at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, which has a 100-kilowatt solar panel system--the second largest in Colorado after DIA's 2 megawatt system (see the Denver Post's story).  Governor Bill Ritter and Museum Director George Sparks both cited Colorado's efforts at renewable energy as one of the reasons contributing to Obama's visit.  

Design Concepts has been the leader in renewable resource design for communities and public spaces since 1981.  

A LEED Project: Westin Element Hotel

In keeping with our effort to diversify our portfolio we have recently taken on the landscape design of the 3000 sq. ft. courtyard at the Westin Element hotel currently under construction in Park Meadows. Not unlike other projects we have done, the landscape at the Element will be LEED certified with a water efficiency credit and a sustainable sites credit. We’re proud to be on board with the design of the first LEED certified hotel in Colorado. We were recommended for the project by YRG Sustainability (yrgconsultants.com), the LEED consultant for Casey Middle School—another DC design.

Todd from our office is the key designer for this project and is also a LEED Accredited Professional. While the design of urban gathering spaces such as this are a large portion of our portfolio, Todd notes that previous plazas and public gardens were usually on school campuses and within community parks. For this project Todd and others at the firm will incorporate hardscape shaded by native trees, planted vegetation, and some grass to create the three tiered plaza that will serve as the hotel’s courtyard, pool entryway, fire pit gathering area, and outdoor dining space.

Carol (one of the four principals here) and Todd intend to focus on Colorado climate-friendly vegetation in keeping with LEED’s principal of limiting water usage. This means using plants, trees, and flowers that are native to the area and therefore well accustomed to drought. Furthermore, the design will limit the use of thirsty grasses such as the popular Kentucky Bluegrass.

Congregating spaces are definitive of the community building designs that are the DC hallmark. The Festival Plazas in Winter Park and Louisville are great examples of this. The renovations of the Trumbo Plaza on CU’s campus are even more exemplary of how our designs of public spaces define and invite social gathering. This focus is continuing with Castle Rock’s Festival Plaza, another upcoming project that will challenge us to once again apply and expand our concept of design. Check back for an update on that project.

Visit Element Hotel’s website

New Website Feature: Virtual Arboretum

Check out our new Virtual Arboretum for the Louisville Community Park!

We’ve put together an interactive way for communities to learn more about the trees that live in their area. Park visitors can stop and take notice of the Imperial Honeylocust they pass en route to the playground or the English Oak that they have been resting under.

To use the VA, go to our website to download and print the Virtual Arboretum map and take it with you to the park. Orient yourself using the map and match the trees on the guide to those on the map. It is a fun and interactive way to experience the park and can be used by anyone – from families to seniors, and wildlife enthusiasts to school groups.
We started the Virtual Arboretum project to share our knowledge of the many neighborhood parks around Colorado with the communities that use them. Perhaps it will help instill a greater appreciation for the natural environment or allow users to impress their friends as they recite Quercus macrocarpa.

We invite you to give it a try and keep going back throughout the year. Please leave a comment and let us know what you think!

POLL: Blog features

Check out our new poll in the side bar to the right. Please vote and be heard!

-Design Concepts

Green Tip: Our Green Building

We're walkin' the walk. For about a year now we have made the effort to maintain a zero-waste company. This means that we recycle and compost as much as we can. We do our best to buy office and kitchen supplies which are eco-friendly. From compost bins in the kitchen and bathrooms-which are emptied into Eco-Cycle containers outside-to the use of recycled, recyclable and/or compostable plotter, printer, drawing, and tracing paper as well as compostable toilet paper and paper towels there is a concerted effort on the part of every one of our employees to contribute to the sustainability goals we have set for ourselves.

We have also formed alliances with the other businesses in our building to move toward becoming a zero-waste building. Mojo Coffeehouse is zero waste and shares both our compost and recycle bins, while The Sweet Tomato restaurant recycles their plastics, cardboard, and glass.

The vendors who help us stay zero waste:

Eco-Cycle

Eco Green Office

Vanderberg Office Supply

Data Print

Waste Connections

Office Depot (yes, even the bigger guys offer green supplies now)

If you're looking to go zero-waste (or even increase your part to be more eco friendly) don't hesitate to contact us, we're happy to help.

Hello blog world!

Hey there, thanks for stopping by! We're thrilled to launch our new blog site. This blog holds a lot of potential for us and we hope it proves to be a valuable tool for you. Our intent is to keep it regularly updated with posts about just about everything related to what we do. We'll cover topics such as green construction, design theory, interviews, industry news and much more. We also want this blog to evolve over time so you might see changes from time to time.
Anyhow, thanks for checking us out and don't be shy on leaving comments - we love to hear from you and appreciate the feedback.

-Design Concepts