Hotel developers to locate sales office at arts complex
The developers of a proposed 50-story Four Seasons hotel in Denver announced Thursday that they’ve signed a lease for a sales and marketing center at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
The proposed Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences will be built by Teatro Tower LLC – whose principals are Hotel Teatro developers Jeff Selby and Michael Brenneman – on the southeast corner of Arapahoe and 14th streets, adjacent to the arts center. Teatro Tower’s sales center is scheduled to open in December.
Upon completion, Denver’s Four Seasons development will include 140 luxury private residences on its upper floors and 230 “five-star” Four Seasons hotel rooms and suites.
“We are bringing the same ‘grand living’ to Denver that’s found in many of the world’s most celebrated and cosmopolitan cities,” Selby said in a statement.
$2 billion project set for I-70 and E-470
South Carolina-based RealtiCorp. is planning a mixed-use development at Interstate 70 and E-470 in Aurora.
The $2 billion project, called Horizon City Center, will include 2,800 residential units, 3 million square feet of commercial space and 1 million square feet of retail, said Alan Ballew, president of RealtiCorp.
The project, expected to take up to 12 years to complete, will begin late next year. About 26,000 people could eventually work there.
NREL, Xcel join on solar energy project
The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Xcel Energy announced a first-of-a-kind agreement Thursday to develop software to evaluate siting options for off-grid and grid-connected, commercial rooftop solar electricity systems in Colorado.
The partnership between the two organizations was developed through Xcel Energy’s Utility Innovations Program. In April, NREL approached Xcel Energy about its interest in partnering on the project.
Samsonite to make gear for Timberland
Timberland Co., the maker of hiking boots and outdoor clothing, agreed to let Denver-based Samsonite Corp. produce travel gear under the company’s brand to widen its reach overseas.
Samsonite, the world’s biggest luggagemaker, will design, manufacture and distribute a new Timberland product line for next year’s fall season, Strathan, N.H.-based Timberland said Thursday in a statement.
Applied Films breaks ground in Taiwan
Applied Films Corp. announced Thursday that it broke ground earlier this week on a new production facility in Tai nan, Taiwan.
Thomas T. Edman, president and chief executive, was joined by Taiwanese officials in breaking ground on the $10 million facility in the Southern Taiwan Science Park.
Kaiser reaches pact with union workers
Kaiser Permanente and its unionized workers announced a five-year contract Thursday covering 82,000 employees in eight states, including Colorado, and Washington, D.C.
The HMO and union officials said the contract covers nearly all Kaiser employees – except doctors – at more than 400 facilities. It includes annual pay raises of up to 5 percent in the first year and more money for benefits and training.
Sirna, Allergan join on eye treatments
Sirna Therapeutics Inc. said it will work with Allergan Inc., maker of the dry-eye medicine Restasis, to develop gene-based treatments for age-related macular degeneration and other eye- related diseases.
The company will get an initial payment of $5 million from Allergan and be eligible for as much as $245 million more when certain milestones, such as approval by the Food and Drug Administration, are reached, said chief executive Howard Robin.
Airline eases switch to an earlier flight
American Airlines is making it easier to hop on an earlier flight if you’re ready to go before your original flight leaves – but it will cost you a few bucks.
Fort Worth-based American unveiled a new policy Thursday that allows travelers to change plans at the last minute and get a confirmed seat on a different flight for a $25 fee.
Plant to convert coal into diesel, heating oil
The nation’s first commercial plant to convert waste coal into zero-sulfur diesel fuel and home-heating oil will be constructed in Pennsylvania, state officials said Thursday.
Waste Management and Processors Inc. in Gilberton plans to begin the $612 million project next spring in Mahanoy Township that will use a technology first developed by German scientists in the 1920s.
Ford aims to improve rapport with suppliers
In an effort to cut costs and improve its strained relationship with suppliers, Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it plans to pare down the number of suppliers it uses and give the remaining ones bigger, longer-term contracts and more involvement in the design process.
Tony Brown, Ford’s senior vice president for global purchasing, said Ford will identify strategic suppliers, involve them at the beginning of a vehicle’s design process and give them money up front for engineering and development.
JPMorgan selling BrownCo to E-Trade
E-Trade Financial Corp. on Thursday said it will purchase BrownCo from JPMorgan Chase & Co. for $1.6 billion, a move that intensifies its rivalry with Ameritrade Holding Corp. for dominance in the online brokerage market.
The acquisition comes amid rapid industry consolidation as competitors slash fees in an effort to win customers and boost trading volumes, which have declined heavily since the dot-com bubble burst four years ago.
Boeing workers vote on new labor pact
Thousands of workers who assemble Boeing Co.’s commercial airplanes voted Thursday on whether to approve a new labor contract and return to work after a 4-week-old strike.
Machinists union leaders have recommended that union members accept the revised offer, which improves pension payouts and doesn’t increase health-care premiums.
Delta Petroleum Corp., a Denver-based energy exploration and development company, reported Thursday that it has closed on a previously announced private placement that raised approximately $95 million in net proceeds. The funds were used to fund the $85 million acquisition of Savant Resources LLC assets in the Columbia River Basin in Washington state and Pice ance Basin in western Colorado.
Whiting Petroleum Corp. of Denver announced Thursday that its public offering of 5.75 million shares of common stock was priced at $43.60 per share. Whiting expects to deliver the shares Tuesday.
Colorado State University mathematics professor Don Estep is part of a team of researchers that won a three- year, $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop new mathematical equations that model physical phenomena important to the country’s energy problems.
Flashback Video Productions of Boulder completed two additional programs as part of its ongoing contract with Film Ideas Inc., a distributor of educational videos to school districts around the country.
Displaytech Inc. of Longmont said Thursday that its LightView 201k-EV2 microdisplay will be featured as the electronic viewfinder in the Olympus SP-500UZ digital camera.
GroundFloor Media, with offices in Denver and Boulder, added the Denver Office of Economic Development, The Peloton condominium complex, Sherrill Tree and Climbing Supply, and housing developer BaseCamp Communities to its client base.
China Wireless Communications Inc. of Denver announced Thursday that it has signed a contract with Tianjin Medicine Industry and Biology Technic Co. to supply desktop computing solutions and technical support.
Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers bulk supervisor Michael Frailey was selected by the Colorado Association for Persons in Supported Employment to receive the 2005 Long-Term Employer in Supported Employment Award.
The Colorado Renewable Energy Society, along with the Center for ReSource Conservation and the Colorado Energy Science Center, will sponsor a Denver tour of solar and green-built homes Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $20 per car. The tour starts at the Visitor Center of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. Information: www.cres-energy.org/newhtml/about_tsh.html.
Colorado Technical University on Thursday announced a new surgical technology program at its Pueblo campus. The program is designed to provide students with the education, theory and hands-on skills required to begin or enhance a career in surgical technology.
EBags.com of Denver said it has raised $175,000 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation since EBags.com launched the Pick Pink Program in July 2004. The company guaranteed a minimum donation of $100,000 for 2005.
