Sustainable and Attainable….. that was one of the first descriptions used for SPIRE.  Attainable referred to the attractive pricing for condo residences in the heart of downtown Denver.  Sustainable referred to the fact that SPIRE was designed and built pursuing the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED® criteria.  For a building to qualify for LEED® certification, a certain number of points must be earned in various categories within the scope of sustainable design.   It’s something everyone working on SPIRE felt was important and more importantly,  it’s something our homeowners valued.   With such things as air quality, daylight access, materials, location, and operating efficiency for utilities involved, it’s a pretty important part of a home.  For many of our residents, living in a sustainable building is on the “must have” list when selecting a home.

All of us at SPIRE would like to thank  everyone who contributed to this achievement.  We were  fortunate to have such an incredible team of design, architecture, and construction experts to make this goal a reality.

To learn more about SPIRE or to tour any of our residences, please contact our sales center at 720-457-97550.  Cheers and here is a copy of the official release.

SPIRE ACHIEVES LEED® CERTIFICATION
High-rise provides sustainably designed high-performance condominium homes in Downtown Denver

DENVER (June 23, 2010) – RNL today announced SPIRE’s attainment of the LEED-NC Certified designation, as verified by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  Developed by The Nichols Partnership, Inc. and built by JE Dunn Construction Company, SPIRE is a dynamic new urban Read more

Photo Credit to Elegant Images and Photographs

SPIRE is bustling with activity.  New SPIRE homeowners have moved in and are enjoying their new downtown Denver lifestyle and the many SPIRE amenities.  What’s their favorite amenity… is it the fitness center, pools, hot tubs, theater room, or perhaps simply the location and views?  We decided to ask our new homeowners.

Welcome to the first of our homeowner interviews.  We are proud to introduce you to SPIRE resident Jim Deak.  Not only is Jim one of our first homeowners but he shared with us that he is getting married this coming weekend and may be “the first couple officially starting their lives together at SPIRE”.  Congratulations Jim and Kristen!

Here is our interview with Jim.

What first attracted you to SPIRE?

Maintenance free living in the downtown Denver environment.  I was also taken by the views, premier location and amenities the building has to offer.

When you were evaluating your different options for condos in Denver, what factors helped you determine that SPIRE was your #1 pick?

The location- centrally located near the theatre district, the 16th St Mall Shuttle, and an RTD Light Rail Stop.  The proximity to 100′s of restaurants, sports facilities and unique shopping opportunities.  There are other upscale living opportunities in downtown Denver, but they couldn’t compete with this building’s location, amenities and value.  As a licensed Real Estate agent, my sense for value and location led me back to SPIRE after comparing it to other downtown options.

Which residence/floor plan did you select for your home and why?

We chose the Arapahoe- it’s a 2br floorplan that offers a fantastic west facing view of Invesco field, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.  That’s the west view- looking to the east we see the “Christmas Tree” building, the Colorful Clock Tower, and the lights of downtown living.

Do you have a favorite amenity within the building?

The 2 outdoor hot tubs have been doing wonders on my senses- I mean sore back.  More seriously, the Box Office is the best home theater I have ever experienced short of IMAX movies.

When did you move in to SPIRE?

As soon as possible!  April 28th was the date.  The porter staff was a nice added benefit holding doors open and just helping insure a smooth move.

As a SPIRE homeowner, can you share some of the best things about living at SPIRE and in the heart of Denver?

5 minute walk to the Buell Theater and the 16th St Shuttle.   RTD light rail and B-Cycle is at your doorstep.  Walk or B-Cycle to any downtown work site.  The outdoor pool, hot tubs, box office and the rest of 2 floors of amenities that can’t be found anywhere else.  Did I mention the stunning city and mountain views?

Do you have any recommendations for new homeowners to SPIRE (restaurants, events, things to do)?

Buy now, before prices rise further!  Little India is a weekly stop for take out or the lunch buffet.  Ride the B-Cycle to REI for coffee and some weekend trip supplies.  Take a run or bike ride along the South Platte River paths.

Any thoughts on the growth and development that is happening in Downtown Denver?

The 14th St Redevelopment project is going to be exiting to watch as it continues to build on SPIRE’s location and its proximity to great restaurants, sporting events and theater.

Thanks Jim !
To learn more about residences at SPIRE or to schedule a tour of our building please contact our sales center at 720.457.7550.

It’s the first big 3 day weekend of summer. For SPIRE residents it’s time to sit by the pool, fire up one of the grills with some steaks, and maybe finish off the day with a soak in a hot tub. Here’s a rundown of some Memorial Day Weekend Events.

1. May 28-30th – “The Downtown Denver Arts Festival is dedicated to supporting and showcasing Colorado visual artists. Downtown Denver Arts Festival holds its annual premier event each Memorial Day Weekend at the Denver Pavilions. The fine art exhibition features over 135 of Colorado’s finest visual artists with over 150,000 people expected to attend.  The Arts Festival is open to all Colorado Artists.  
2. All weekend long and beyond, you can enjoy the Body Works And The Science of the Heart Exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  “BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart, an all-new exhibition, reveals—through the lenses of anatomy, cardiology, psychology and culture—how the heart nourishes, regulates and sustains life.”
3. May 29th and May 30th – Colorado Rockies vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers.  Take in a ball game on a beautiful Memorial Day Weekend and enjoy the sunshine at Coors Field.
4. Sunday, May 30th – JAX Fish House Crab Boil.  This one needs to be booked at least 48 hours in advance so don’t wait until the last minute if you want to spend Sunday enjoying one of the best outdoor patios downtown.  Memorial Day Weekend is a perfect time for a Crab Boil, and those from the East Coast can vouch that on a sunny summer day it’s one of the true delights you can enjoy with friends getting about as messy as possible.  Old Bay anyone?
5. Monday, May 31st – The Bolder Boulder:  Not only is this one of the most famous Colorado running events…. it doesn’t require a car drive.    The beauty of living downtown is that RTD has prepared for this event for city dwellers.  Just hop on the light rail down to Market Street station (or walk) and take a bus up to Boulder with other runners.  This avoids traffic and you can relax after your 10K run all the way home.  Known for the many bands, belly dancers, and other sights on the run itself, it is a Colorado favorite.
6. May 29th, 30th, and 31st – Old South Gaylord Street Event.   Visit Old South Gaylord Street for their 31st year of a family-oriented street festival with lots of different hand-made crafts, food and entertainment for ALL ages. Visit their site for more information.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.   So there is one other event for this Memorial Day weekend list that is very special.  The  Denver Memorial Day Parade will be held on May 29th at 10:00 AM.  Here is a link for more information.

Whatever you choose to do this upcoming holiday weekend we hope you have a wonderful, fun and safe weekend.  See you around SPIRE.

We couldn’t be more excited!

Our first homeowners have moved into SPIRE!  The Denver Post even took note in this article celebrating this exciting milestone as the Downtown welcomes it’s newest residents.

The first set of keys have been given out, the first moving company has delivered furniture, and the first SPIRE homeowners have awakened to their new lifestyle in the heart of Downtown Denver.

It has been exciting to watch SPIRE through every step.  It started with site design and the initial architectural drawings.  A great location in the heart of Downtown Denver deserved a spectacular vision for every aspect.  Design progressed from the most general detail (how many stories will it be… 42) to the individual selection of every tile color for the pools or the number of treadmills in the exercise room.  Every floor plan was designed, then improved, then improved again to create a wonderful living space.  Design truly never stopped as each new idea or suggestion was evaluated and factored into SPIRE and the lifestyle of the residents who would call it home.

The construction stage carried us through a gradual rise in the Denver Skyline (time lapse below)

And as the building got closer to completion, we had the opportunity to take our first “hard hat” tours through the building.  Climbing stairs or riding the construction elevators, the SPIRE team got to introduce prospective homeowners and the occasional architectural tour to the spectacular views of Denver from any one of the 42 stories.  It was exciting to hear those first visitors share their great reviews from within SPIRE.

Construction wrapped up and finishing touches were put on the building.  Carpeting, artwork, lighting, and of course the details in the residences and amenities were completed.  Once again there was the excitement of opening the doors of SPIRE to tour our future homeowners.  But one final excitement still remained…  the first day SPIRE would fill with the energy of homeowners.

That day is here.  The front desk is staffed, the fitness center and hot tubs are open, and the first folks will be able to fall asleep and wake up to the spectacular views of the city from within SPIRE’s glass walls.  Yes Mr. U.S. Post Office, you can now start delivering mail.  The Denver Skyline now has a new set of lights glowing into the evening sky.

For more information about SPIRE or to schedule a private tour please contact our sales center at 720-457-7550.  And don’t forget closings now are within the time frame for the Home Buyer Tax Credits for those who qualify.

What is one party that you should not miss, a party that is a tradition for the city of Denver?
Why of course the Derby Party… a perfect excuse to wear your traditional derby attire and maybe, just maybe.. enjoy the perfect Mint Julep.

All of us at SPIRE love the traditions of Denver from the parades through the streets of downtown Denver to the many celebrations of our sunshine filled city.  That’s why last week SPIRE hosted the pre-party kickoff of the Derby Party.  For those of us at SPIRE, part of the fun of these events is to see the building filled with energy and laughter.  The club lounge filled with the sounds of a DJ mixing beats, the sports lounge broadcast March Madness games and highlights, and the outdoor fire pit and amenity deck each filled with happy celebration and the energy of the great residents of Denver.  In the crowd were many future SPIRE homeowners who enjoyed relaxing in their new home knowing that this was just the first of many evenings they would get to spend in the lifestyle of Downtown.

The event was capped off with a drawing to win a Schwinn Motor Scooter from Spire! The grand prize winner was Janette Juan who celebrated in the club lounge to the cheers of the room as her name was drawn and read.

Thank you to everyone who came out and we wish you all a happy Derby Party Celebration!  Images from the event can be seen on SPIRE at Facebook or ordered at Zenfolio.

If you are interested in learning more about SPIRE or in taking a personal tour please contact our sales center at 720-457-7550.

We know there are a number of steps before the Housewarming Party.  Before the party there’s the set up, the shopping, and the invites.  Champagne or wine?  Imported beer or domestic?  Tapas or hot wings?  Oysters or pizza?

Before that it’s the moving, the painting,  and all the little touches that make a home a home.  Where does your favorite reading chair go?  What about that memento from the trip overseas?  Where to put those favorite photos of friends family and cherished memories?

Before that… the moving, the scheduling of utilities, the change of address with the post office.  All the steps t0 make sure you don’t miss a single episode of your favorite show.

And before that…. you schedule the day you close on your new home at SPIRE and pick up your keys.  The day your life downtown at SPIRE begins and everything you look forward to downtown becomes only steps outside your front door.

This past week letters went out to our SPIRE future homeowners to begin scheduling those appointments.  SPIRE will soon be welcoming new homeowners to their fabulous new downtown residences — a cheerful greeting at the SPIRE front desk, a movie theater waiting for its first homeowner premier, a sports lounge waiting for its first fan-filled game, and of course the pools, spas, and fitness center waiting to relax and rejuvenate SPIRE homeowners all spells “Welcome Home”.

Cheers to future SPIRE residents and welcome to the neighborhood.

For more information about your upcoming closing or to learn more about available residences at SPIRE please contact the SPIRE Sales Center at 720-457-7550.

We are excited to announce that SPIRE has moved ONSITE!

Now that SPIRE is nearing completion and we have a wonderful building to feature, we have relocated our Sales & Design Center onsite to:

SPIRE
891 14th Street, Suite 140
Denver, CO 80202

As of March 1, 2010 we will officially call SPIRE our home. Please stop by today and say “hello” as we showcase our newly designed Sales Center and spectacular models. Our new models are appointed with an inspired mix of contemporary furnishings, luxury textiles and unique home accessories to illustrate chic urban living. Share our excitement as we get one step closer to move-ins. SPIRE is no longer just a dream, it’s now a reality!

SPIRE features many green and sustainable attributes and is one of the largest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) registered residential projects in the country.  SPIRE offers one-, two-, and three- bedroom homes with prices starting from the high $200,000s.  Homeowners enjoy numerous conveniences including dedicated residential concierge, 24 hour attended lobby, secured deeded parking, state-of-the-art fitness center, billiards room, multi media theatre area, exclusive club lounge on the 42nd floor and much more.  Visit today and discover why SPIRE is one of the fastest selling high-rise developments in the Mile-High City.

We are looking forward to sharing our beautiful new building with you!

The above was the email we just sent out announcing our brand new sales center office.  We are excited to be working inside the SPIRE building as of this week and welcoming our clients and visitors.  Come on down and see what all the excitement is about.

Are you on our list?  If you didn’t get this email,  you might be missing out on other exciting announcements about SPIRE. Just fill out the  request information page and we will make sure you get all the new exciting SPIRE updates and announcements.

Photos by Joseph Brodsky (founder of Ninety Plus Coffee) | Theme and Photo Optimization by Steven Holt (creative agent for Ninety Plus Coffee)

It’s almost time. If you missed the recent article in the Denver Post by Penny Parker, the topic was about SPIRE preparing for homeowners to move in. This has been ongoing news as all of us, and all of our homeowners, have been looking forward to picking up their keys and moving in. With that moment just around the corner and the timing of this article, we thought it was a nice time to discuss the foundation of the building with the SPIRE retail spaces.

Living downtown at SPIRE is a magical experience. Restaurants, shops and entertainment are only footsteps away. Pools, hot tubs, fitness center, sports room, and multiple lounge spaces are within the building. And at the base of SPIRE for residents to enjoy will be a number of excellent retail amenities. The Denver Post article let the cat out of the bag about two of the retailers we are excited to have at SPIRE. The first, Revolution Cleaners, is an environmentally friendly dry cleaner.  SPIRE residents will enjoy the convenience of in-building delivery and drop off.  Here is a little bit more about Revolution Cleaners from their web site…

Revolution Cleaners opened for business in 2004 with the intention of raising the cleaning standard in both service and process. We introduced a new cleaning technology and became Denver’s only true environmentally friendly dry cleaner. We are firmly committed to serving our customers and the environment in the best way possible. That philosophy shows in our dedication to customer satisfaction, quality service and through our sustainable business practices:

• We are Denver’s true environmentally friendly cleaner, using the only non-toxic technologies available.
• We guarantee the quality of our product.
• We use wind power to run our plant.
• Our vans use alternative fuels.
• Our uniforms and laundry bags, wherever possible, are made from organic cotton and renewable hemp fiber.
• We use renewable resources in our stores such as bamboo hardwood and cork.
• Our employees are highly trained garment care professionals.

The second SPIRE retailer will be Ninety Plus Coffee, a coffee wholesaler and retailer. It will be the first retail store for the “green” company, whose clients include Whole Foods. We didn’t want our SPIRE homeowners to have to travel far at all for one of the most basic (and some would say essential) pleasures of downtown life… an exceptional cup of coffee in the morning.

We are so proud to have such wonderful tenants as part of the SPIRE retail base and in the surrounding neighborhood. You may have noticed that these two businesses pursue “green” operations. We like that. We can’t wait to announce our other retail tenants so please stay tuned.

To learn more about the a home at SPIRE or to schedule a tour of our 42 story addition to Denver’s Skyline please contact the SPIRE sales center at 720-457-7550 or visit us on the web at spiredenver.com.

If you are a fan of green initiatives in Denver,  feel free to come in and check us out at our new sales center. SPIRE is a USGBC registered project and we would love to share with you more details of all of the items that contributed to our LEED points.

Regards… and more news coming soon.

SPIRE Denver Happy Hour

Last night as the snow fell on the streets of Downtown Denver a few hundred future homeowners, brokers, and SPIRE team members enjoyed the spectacular view from SPIRE’s 9th, 10th, and 42nd Floors.

The views out to the snow covered city and the warm energy of celebration inside made for a pretty incredible night.  For many joining us last night it was the first opportunity to see the completed amenity areas including the fully furnished club rooms and the extensive fitness center.  Inside food, drink and laughter was shared as neighbors enjoyed meeting each other and experiencing the SPIRE lifestyle.  The winter weather was a definite gift creating a beautiful panorama of city lights and snow flakes from the 42nd floor Sky Club to enjoy.  Many were undeterred by the low temperatures outside and ventured onto the 9th floor pool deck to warm themselves by the fire pit, wine glass in hand, while taking in the glow from the pools and hot tub while steam rose into the air.  What a wonderful sight to see so many smiles.

For those who didn’t have the opportunity to join us for this event we can share a little summary of what was seen by all.  The amenity levels have been decorated with expertise from some pretty fabulous designers and the technology gurus equipped both the 10th floor private theater room and the 9th floor sports zone with amazing quality large screen displays and sound systems.  From the elaborate chandeliers in the lounge to the Macintosh workstations in the office center, attention was spent on every details.  The result is terrific and it was a pleasure to see the joyful reactions from Happy Hour attendees.

For those who made it to our event thank you for helping us celebrate the finishing touches that have gone into each SPIRE amenity.  If you would like to see more photos inside SPIRE from this event please join us at SPIRE Denver on Facebook.

If you would prefer your own personal tour of SPIRE please visit us at the SPIRE Experience Center, 890 14th Street Denver CO 80202 or schedule an appointment with one of our sales professionals at 720-457-7550.

www.spiredenver.com

SPIRE Happy Hour

SPIRE Happy Hour

SPIRE Happy Hour

SPIRE Denver wins award for project of the year at the Rocky Mountain Real Estate Expo


Happy Thanksgiving Denver from all of us at SPIRE!

This time of year is so very special. It’s a time to gather with family and friends, a time to share one’s home with others, and a time to give thanks. All of us at SPIRE are thankful for so many things this year. We are thankful for the terrific team of Architects, Construction Experts, Designers, and others who helped make SPIRE a reality.  We are thankful to be a part of the skyline in such an incredible city. And we are thankful for our many future homeowners, retail tenants, and neighbors who are will be filling SPIRE with their energy (and their own dinner parties, Thanksgiving or otherwise).  One of the wonderful benefits our homeowners will enjoy is a state of the art fitness facility on the 9th floor.  Eat that extra piece of pecan pie guilt free knowing you can work it off the next day without ever venturing outside in the cold.  Cheers to that!

We also wanted to share some follow up images from our last post in which SPIRE was recognized at the Rocky Mountain Real Estate Expo for project of the Year.  SPIRE partners Bill Pruter and Chris Crosby are pictured accepting the award and below Barb Smith shares some of the many wonderful details about SPIRE at the building model.

Best wishes to you this Holiday Season.  With all the wonderful recognition SPIRE has received our Experience center team has been busy taking clients on tours through the building or into our models so we wanted to make sure we shared our holiday hours for this weekend.  If you are thinking of stopping in we will be closed on Thanksgiving and reopening on Friday from noon until 5 p.m.  To learn more about SPIRE or schedule your own private tour of the building and residences please visit the SPIRE Experience Center at 890 14th Street or contact us at 720-457-7550.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Barb Smith shares details of SPIRE at the Rocky Mountain Real Estate Expo