by dvmosomy | Tuesday, December 17, 2024 |
• Public Open Space — A landscape buffer along Platte Park respects and enhances the existing open space experience for park users
• Ecology — The drought tolerant plant palette respects the park ecosystem by prohibiting invasive species establishment, while minimizing the need for supplemental irrigation
• Water Quality — A bio-swale intercepts all storm water runoff from the site
• Viewshed — View corridors are preserved within the community from South Platte River Parkway through the park foothills to improve visual connectivity of open space
Alta Aspen Grove, a 280-unit transit oriented apartment community in Littleton, Colorado, was selected as the Multi-Family Project of the Year at the 2012 Rocky Mountain Commercial Real Estate Expo. This Silver certified LEED (in Home Category) community is within convenient walking distance of the Mineral Avenue light rail station and the Aspen Grove Lifestyle Center. The community also adjoins South Platte Park, Carson Nature Center and the Platte River Greenway. Alta Aspen Grove offers residents convenient access to active outdoor recreation and a range of urban amenities.
by dvmosomy | Monday, December 2, 2024 |
As part of the Skidmore Owens Merrill (SOM) Design Team, THK lead the urban design effort for the plaza, fountain and landscape areas reserved for AFA Staff and Cadets. The two plazas adjacent to the building included a custom turf/paving system that was designed to support cadet traffic.
Passive reflective pools were also designed and are reminiscent of the original reflective pools designed by acclaimed landscape architect Dan Kiley. These fountains included a passive circulation system to support the quiet, reflective experience of cadets using the plaza. The fountain mechanical system was hidden with unique weir and cobble lined bottom. Plant materials were selected that require minimal maintenance and were selected for to minimize debris accumulation in the reflective pools. A sports turf sod was specified that was capable of sustaining high volumes of pedestrian traffic.
The Center for Character and Leadership Development was awarded the International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in 2011.
by dvmosomy | Monday, September 23, 2024 |
As a part of the New Pueblo Freeway, THK Associates Inc. master planned mitigation measures for Mineral Palace Park caused by the widening of I-25. The result of this effort was a Park Restoration Plan for the entire park. Mineral Palace Park was originally constructed in the late 1800’s and was originally constructed as a tourist destination, housing a spectacular rose garden and the largest mineral collection in the world at that time. The grounds around the Palace consisted of an elaborate garden with botanical displays, flowerbeds, a lake and walking paths. The Palace also functioned as a community gathering place housing many community functions. In the early 1900’s, the City of Pueblo took over the ownership and maintenance of the park. In the 1930’s and 1940’s, major renovations occurred in the park as a part of the WPA program. Also, by this time, the Palace had been torn down. Since the early 1900’s, Mineral Palace Park has survived as the only regional park in the north half of Pueblo.
Due to the park’s long history and the importance of the park within Pueblo’s park system, City, community and business interest in the park was very high. THK lead a very intense public involvement process to develop a Master Plan for the park. This Master Plan will become part of the required mitigation for widening I-25.
THK also helped establish the Friends of Mineral Palace Park. This group includes the city, business and concerned citizens to help with the maintenance of the park, and to form a partnership with the city to assure that the park continues to be a vibrant element of the city.
by dvmosomy | Monday, September 16, 2024 |
For this project, THK Associates developed a master plan for 6 miles of the Big Dry Creek corridor between I-25 and 160th Avenue. While the City of Thornton had already created ‘pearls’ of open spaces along the South Platte River and Niver Creek, Big Dry Creek was the last remaining ‘open space pearl’ needed to create a complete system of open space corridors in Thornton. Big Dry Creek provides outstanding opportunities for passive recreation and wildlife habitat and encompasses almost 300 acres of open space areas that have been preserved through acquisition by Thornton and Adams County.
The master plan assessed these publicly-owned parcels from hydraulic, geomorphic, environmental, social and recreational standpoints and created a framework for these areas to be connected both to each other and to the larger networks of trails, parks and open spaces. The key to creating an effective and implementable framework in the master plan was to understand that successful riparian corridors are complex systems that cannot be completely ‘controlled.’ By preserving and protecting a wide corridor that the Creek could move within without negatively impacting infrastructure (such as roads and buildings), we were also able to create a plentiful wildlife habitat alongside recreational amenities including a regional trail system and environmental learning opportunities.
Currently, THK is providing final design services for Phase 1 improvements including 2500 L.F. of creek restoration and a trailhead.
THK is also completing final design on 3 additional segments of trail that will be completed by Jan 2021.
by dvmosomy | Thursday, September 12, 2024 |
In 2016, THK Associates, Inc. was retained to assist the Town of Georgetown in updating their Comprehensive Plan. The plan built upon and modernized the Town’s 2000 Comprehensive Plan, responding to a series of key issues and goals identified by the citizens of the community and the Town Staff. The plan provides clear direction, time frames and potential funding partners to support the implementation of these goals in the future. The document also serves as the foundation for land development regulations and capital improvement programming.
THK structured the “user-friendly” 40-page document around three sections in addition to the Introduction:
- “Plan Influences” includes a community profile, trends and issues summary, and planning influences map.
- “Policy Framework” outlines the citizens’ vision, goals, key strategies, priority actions and maps themes.
- “Plan Implementation” organizes the action items into an implementation matrix for approaching, monitoring, and evaluating progress toward achieving the Plan’s vision and goals.
THK also directed intense public outreach, leading four public meetings and working closely with the Project Steering Committee, Town of Georgetown Staff, Board of Selectman, and Planning Commission, to center the needs and vision of the community. Project Steering Committee members expressed views from Design Review Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Business Promotions Commission and Clear Creek County Staff.
THK also updated Plan maps, including Planning Influences, Character Areas, Land Use Plan, Transportation Plan, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, to accurately reflect changes to the existing conditions, needs, and desires of the community. Our updates also act as a framework for future plans and development.
