J Madden, developer of Pura Vida Club and Nectar Spa, which opened last week in the former Tattered Cover Book Store space in Cherry Creek North, says he wants the facilities to represent state-of-the-art design while using as many environmentally sound materials and practices as possible.
Here are some of the features of the fitness club and spa, which was designed by Semple Brown Design:
• Window shades rise and fall in response to the sun to control heat and air conditioning costs. The SilverScreen shades feature a layer of aluminum, which improves solar energy performance without diminishing view-through properties.
• Rubber flooring in the cardiovascular workout area is durable, dimensionally stable and an environmentally sustainable material.
• Recycled tumbled glass is used in the club’s signature water feature, floor troughs and locker rooms.
• Vinyl tiles made with 20 percent post-industrial recycled content are used in the stairwells.
• Carpet tiles are rated Green Label Plus, indicating the materials and adhesives meet criteria for low chemical emissions. The backing contains 40 percent recycled content.
• Chilled filtered water is offered throughout; no bottled water sold.
• Organic fruit and snacks are catered daily by Whole Foods.
• Madden says they’re trying to become a “paperless” operation, posting as much information as possible on the Internet rather than printing schedules.
• In Nectar Spa, director Gregg Gonzales says the main product line is Comfort Zone, which is botanically based and uses recycled packaging. Products in the retail area, as well as the tea served in the spa, are made by fair-trade companies. A portion of the spa’s profits will go to Water for People, a Denver-based organization that helps people in developing countries maximize their water resources. More at Suzanne S. Brown
