Platte River Power Authority Headquarters Campus

The Platte River Power Authority Headquarters Campus is the operational home of the electrical utility, providing electrical power for much of northeastern Colorado. The campus consists of approximately 81,000 GSF of buildings, including Platte River’s headquarters (offices for general business and engineering and operations functions; a markets control room, and transmissions control room), a Pool Car Garage, Warehouse and Facilities Offices, Shops and Work Vehicle Garage. The 16.7 acre site features a pond used for irrigation and geo-exchange building conditioning; roof top solar array, visitor and employee parking, a public plaza, and maintenance and utility yards and service space. The realized campus creates an integrated, efficient, secure, and sustainable operation of Platte River’s work in a new campus environment tailored to the workflows of the entire Platte River team.  

The design of the new campus is built upon principles articulated in Platte River’s 2016 Strategic Plan paired with in-depth programming with stakeholders. A desire for office efficiency, a clarity of entry that leads to a tangible “heart” of the building, optimized access to maintenance yards, materials reflective of the building’s Northern Colorado context, as well as an integrated landscape and building were primary design drivers. The geo exchange pond and roof top solar array are part of Platte River’s mission as a not-for-profit utility to generate and deliver safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and financially sustainable energy to the municipalities it serves.

The overall building design is shaped by the landscape and is responsive to the site’s microclimate. The material palette is comprised of local materials that reflect the beauty of the regions Platte River serves. Flagstone from Colorado’s Masonville stone quarry is used along the pedestrian edge of the building’s ground floor. Intricate brick detailing at the entry comprised of blended colors woven together echo the movement of staff and visitors from the exterior to the interior of the building. The headquarters building borders the geo-exchange pond, creating opportunities for building users to spend time outdoors, reinforcing the Colorado lifestyle while promoting workplace wellness.

In collaboration with Belford Watkins Group