Most Recent News at RTA

The RTA Healthcare Architects Team was recently chosen as part of Banner Health's "select list of architects". As one of three architecture firms to be added to this list in Colorado, RTA will provide design services in an ongoing capacity for the non-profit healthcare provider.

Banner Health is one of the largest non-profit hospital systems in the United States. With operations in seven states, Banner provides nearly $80 million a year in Charity Care and employs more than 35,000 people in 23 hospitals and healthcare facilities.

RTA was selected for future consideration on Banner's medium to large projects. The firm was selected on the basis of a tight criteria including expertise in healthcare trends and experience with providing phased renovation within occupied spaces.

Healthcare architect Kevin Gould, AIA, responded to the selection with enthusiasm, "RTA's specific abilities are a match for Banner Health's improvement projects. We look forward to the opportunity to assist Banner in their growth in this region."

The Colorado Springs Downtown Partnership chose the RTA offices to be the site of their quarterly Membership Mixer. The late afternoon gathering included light hors d'oeuveres provided by the Springs Rescue Mission, wine by Vintages Wine and Spirits, and hand-crafted ale by Phantom Canyon Brewing Company.

Approximately 90 guests mingled around the third floor of the historic Hibbard Building (repurposed, updated and designed in 1997 by RTA Principal Perry Lewis).

Earlier in the week, the RTA offices had experienced a whirlwind clean-up by architects who are prone to living around creative piles of paper, samples, drafts, and construction documents. Downtown merchants and business owners enjoyed touring the newly tidied office and many comments were made about the open design and interesting office space.

The mixer also provided ample opportunity for business connections. RTA owner and Principal Randy Thorne said, "It was a great opportunity for me to reconnect with a bunch of business associates that I hadn't seen for a while. We appreciated the exposure."

The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Colorado South Chapter, recognized its 2011 architectural design awards recipients during a ceremony on Friday, Aug. 19, at the Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center on the Colorado College campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

AIA Honor Award for Built Architecture

RTA architects Michael Riggs and Doug Abernethy attended the ceremony and received the Honor Award for Built Architecture for Arapahoe Ridge High School (Boulder, Colorado). RTA was selected from nine entries submitted by architect members of AIA Colorado South. The awards were presented by Jury Chair Michael Crow, AIA.

RTA has longstanding experience in Boulder, and continues to partner on multiple school design projects with the Boulder Valley School District.

About AIA South
For more than 150 years, members of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. AIA Colorado South is one of four chapters within the AIA Colorado component. This chapter is comprised of members from 18 counties in south and southeastern Colorado and includes the cities of Colorado Springs, Alamosa, Pueblo and La Junta.

Recently one of RTA's Critical Care Unit designs was included in a submittal for an CCU Citation Award for Best CCU Design of the year.

Centura Health Colorado chose RTA to design the Critical Care Unit at Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker, Colorado. The newly completed CCU is a stand-out project because it demonstrates unique design goals and criteria.

GOAL: The construction of a Critical Care Unit using proven evidence based design concepts that integrate the organization's core values: compassion, respect, integrity, spirituality, stewardship, imagination, and excellence.

The Parker CCU project also demonstrates the following criteria:

• Commitment to creating a healing environment
• Commitment to promoting safety and security
• Commitment to efficiency
• Attention to innovative, unique aesthetic and creative design features

See the layout to get a broader picture of RTA's state-of-the-art critical care design at Parker.

The new Bear Creek Elementary School renovation/addition is now open for the school year!

After a year of careful planning and safe construction around occupied educational spaces, students in Boulder Valley School District will have the opportunity to walk through the new facility. RTA project architect, Michael Riggs says the facility is "designed for kids and community interaction" and intentionally "takes advantage of the spectacular mountain views" of the Boulder Flatirons.

An Open House is scheduled for September 19.

The RTA Education Team for Bear Creek Elementary included: Doug Abernethy (Principal in Charge), Michael Riggs (Project Architect), Rick Taves (Construction Administration), James McConnell (Drafting) and Jessica Ramos (Interior Architecture).

(Photo Courtesy of Jeff Finkelstein)

In this AIA Architect Colorado article by Kelly Roberson, RTA intern Allison Johnson talks about the "Dream City" project and the exciting possibilities of rehabbing blighted neighborhoods.

"What happens when people from all walks of life – architects included – gather to reimagine their city?"

University Village Colorado is a 70 acre success story. Situated near the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs campus, the site was formerly a mish-mash of properties which had become a liability to the urban landscape. Through the efforts of the Urban Renewal Authority the area was revitalized as an economic development tool.

This mini-documentary tells the story of dirt-movers, burning buildings, design inspritation and construction, all through the eyes of all the collaborating experts.

Watch for the RTA Architects: Site plans shown for UVC were orignally drawn by RTA Principal, Perry Lewis. And Associate Principal, Doug Abernethy, comments on the design process ... and ice cream!

Jessica Ramos and Greg Johnson are the core of RTA's Interior Design team. As designers, they create and enhance the human experience within built environments.

In this article for the Colorado Real Estate Journal, Jessica talks about her renovating work at the Margery Reed project in Colorado Springs and the transforming possibilities of adaptive re-use.

Do you have a question about reclaiming an old space? Contact us.

John Hoelscher, RTA healthcare design specialist, responded to questions about the future of architecture in a One on One feature with Rob Larimer of the Colorado Springs Business Journal.

In the Q&A, John mentions the challenges that face the architecture industry as a whole, and RTA specifically. He states, "Our challenge is to find ways that will take us out of the commodity status and bring real unique value to our clients." The rest of John's responses are available at Colorado Springs Business Journal.

The Colorado Governor's Energy Office is recharging the high performance design community in Colorado by delivering customized workshops to audiences across the state. These workshops offer interactive discussion on incorporating high performance design into buildings.

May 23, 2011 - Practically Zero: The Colorado Path to Net Zero Buildings 201

This workshop will provide ways to define, design and attain realistic energy performance goals while still meeting the minimum energy performance requirements. Attendees will, be provided examples and ideas to achieve Net Zero Energy use cost-effectively. Please bring your specific questions.

RTA will be hosting this event at our offices at 19 S. Tejon in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Feel free to come and bring your associates.

This workshop has been approved by the AIA for 2.0 LU/HSW/SD Credits.