REI Wins Green Medal

Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), Seattle-based outdoor gear retailer, and its Seattle-based design firm, Mithun Architects, won the Urban Land Institute's 2002 Award for Excellence. The retailer's Denver flagship store was cited as an outstanding real estate development project. The award was presented at the Institute's annual fall meeting in Las Vegas.

“REI Denver represents a laudable example of corporate mission, message and brand applied to a real estate project,” said ULI jury members. “It has become a new tourist attraction, an anchor for its re-energized neighborhood, and a gateway to downtown Denver.”

The store was built in a 100-year-old building that had formerly been the Denver Tramway Co.'s power plant. The redevelopment combined the building's historic features with interactive customer tools and conveniences.

With a commitment to sustainable design, Mithun restored 30 original windows and designed new ones to match. Additional efforts included the rebuilding of walls and recycling of usable on-site building materials, while leaving some internal systems exposed. More than 24,000 square feet of recycled wood were used in the reconstruction. Evaporative cooling and natural lighting systems contribute to energy consumption on average 30 percent lower than Colorado code requirements.

“The Denver project was made possible through a unique public/private partnership with local agencies and government, and we're grateful for the support of our business and community partners,” said Jerry Chevassus, REI vp for real estate. “The store reflects the aspirations and the history of Denver, and the values of our customers.”

The project has received other recognition, including the highest awards from Colorado Preservation Inc. and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, both for historic rehabilitation. The American Institute of Architects awarded the building as one of the Top Ten Green Projects in the U.S., and the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Awards for Excellence program was established in 1979. This year, 10 winning projects were selected from 105 entries from around the world. Projects were evaluated on financial viability, resourcefulness, design, relevance to contemporary issues and sensitivity to the community and environment.