Colorado-based Hensel Phelps, one of the largest general contractors and construction management firms in the United States, is poised to participate in the continued growth and future of downtown Denver.
With the Colorado economy ranked as the strongest in the nation, Denver could be on the cusp of a wave of growth and urban development not seen since the early 1990s. The economic success of the city over the past three decades is the result of visionary leadership and deliberate urban planning, supported by the expertise of local construction firms such as Hensel Phelps. And Hensel Phelps continues to be a key player in the city’s progress going forward.
“We’re extremely proud of the part we’ve played in making Denver what it is today, and we’re looking forward to playing an even greater part in shaping the Denver of the future,” says Allan Bliesmer, Hensel Phelps vice president and district manager.
Hensel Phelps played a key role in the revitalization of Denver following the oil bust of the early 1980’s, initiating several projects that reshaped the downtown core.
The firm acted as general contractor and/or development partner on the Colorado Convention Center and Hyatt Regency Denver hotel, Mercantile Square in the historic LoDo district, the 16th Street Mall and Pavilions shopping center, Elitch Gardens and Denver International Airport—buildings that have come to epitomize modern Denver. Among other Hensel Phelps projects: the Wellington Webb Municipal Office Building, the History Colorado Center, the Denver Newspaper Agency building, 1999 Broadway and Tabor Center One.
The firm is credited with helping pull Denver out of the recession by taking a chance on large-scale downtown projects when a third of 16th Street storefronts were sitting empty.
Hensel Phelps takes pride in its corporate citizenship and commitment to the local economy by creating jobs. Cultivating a workforce that reflects the cultural and social diversity of Denver is also important. Hensel Phelps has a history of hiring small, minority and disadvantaged firms as subcontractors—typically exceeding guidelines for set-asides.
From Cherry Creek to LoDo and the Riverfront to the Golden Triangle, Hensel Phelps understands how to build in the thriving neighborhoods it has helped shape. The firm can accommodate physical constraints such as local climate, topography and groundwater considerations, as well as human considerations such as traffic flow, noise ordinances and the concerns of businesses, residents and tourists.
This expertise, combined with Hensel Phelps’ legacy in Denver, make the firm ideally suited for the next generation of construction in Denver.
Hensel Phelps is continuing its commitment to the development of downtown Denver with more than $250 million in upcoming projects in transportation, mixed-use retail and lodging started in calendar year 2015.
Quick Facts:
- Corporately located in Colorado for 78 years
- Third-largest private company in Colorado
- $1 million in annual community charitable contributions
- 305 projects completed in Colorado
- 146 projects completed in Denver
