Evergreen Mercantile Building (formerly BMC Building) after facelift designed by EV Studio

The transformation of the Evergreen Mercantile building (formerly the BMC Building) in Bergen Park is now complete. EV Studio completed plans for the exterior facelift of the building which included the addition of new siding, an upgraded parapet wall, new storefront openings and the covered walkway in front of the building. The design for the exterior focused on retaining the integrity of existing concrete "Double T" construction of the building while still allowing for increased openings in the shell and the new western aesthetic of the new facade. In addition, the exterior design project was phased to allow the building owners to commence with the construction project while maneuvering through the variance process to allow for the third gable on the far right side of the facade. A variance was required because today's Jefferson County Zoning Resolution setbacks encroach upon the location where the building was originally built.

EV Studio also completed full As-Built measurements and drawings of the existing 13,800 square foot building and then completed the Tenant Improvement Plans for both levels of the building. The Main Level includes newly remodeled restrooms and seven new retail spaces including the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in the rear of the building. The Upper Level includes newly remodeled restrooms and over 4,000 square feet of updated office spaces. There are already tenants open for business in the building including the Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, Wenzel Music, Boxwood Cabinetry & Design, Rolling Ridge Deck Company and more!

BMC Building prior to facelift designed by EV Studio

The Silver Rock Manor project is nearing completion in Evergreen. When its complete we'll post a full set of photographs, but for now here's a preview.

We attended the site blessing ceremony on Sunday for a house we designed for Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity in Evergreen.

The homeowner has gone through a rigorous selection process and will personally complete 250 hours of sweat equity labor, and purchase the home with an affordable mortgage.  The Sioux Trail House is Blue Spruce’s 27^th house built locally.

Volunteers will break ground within the next couple weeks and EVstudio plans to help out with the construction process as well.

Table R602.10.1.2-1

In addition to the values for the total required length of wall bracing found in the first portion of the table, adjustment factors must be applied. The table values are based on a structure with the following attributes:

• wind exposure category B
• mean roof height of 30 feet
• eave to roof distance of 10 feet
• 10 foot wall heights
• 2 braced wall lines

Notes a-i located at the end of Table R602.10.1.2(1) adjust the initial table value with a multiplier that corresponds to how the structure to be designed deviates from the “model” structure. These changes should contribute to a tighter overall braced wall panel design than was possible with the previous code.

Because Evergreen is made up of primarily homesteaded private property, and there is no incorporated township of any kind, an EDC can provide that most important of components to help facilitate projects from Jeffco Open Space's Bear Creek Trail project to other projects that it can raise funds for and execute as a part of a master plan that it would also be tasked with creating and maintaining. Raising funds will be a core goal for the realization of many of the improvements that need to be made in downtown Evergreen, and strategic partnerships with Jefferson County, the EPRD, CDOT, and many others will play a significant role in executing the master plan. The EDC shall also help to represent the community at Jefferson County Planning and Zoning proceedings for project proposals and over time, can help to serve as an extension of the will of the P&Z department at the local level. The EDC will also exist beyond the leadership that guides it at any given time. This is especially important in an unincorporated community where there is tremendous leadership and enthusiasm, but no organization has ever been created by election to channel and focus them.

Without a formal definition of the boundaries of the cultural district that the EDC will ultimately define and serve, HERO went back to the EDBA, an already  functioning non-profit organization made up of an existing voting body that already serves the business owners and property owners in downtown Evergreen. With the help of the EDBA, Evergreen can legitimately create an EDC and elect a board of directors that appropriately represent the very community that it will serve. The idea is then, that once the cultural district is defined, future elections will then be held among district residents as well as the EDBA voting membership, providing even better representation.

The EDBA motioned and voted on Tuesday, August 10th, to create an EDC for Evergreen under this plan, and the positions for the board of directors will now be nominated and filled by election in subsequent meetings. The time that we have between now and the next meeting is crucial to raise awareness of the newly formed EDC, it's vision for the long term, and solicit interest in serving on the board. The EDC board of directors is to be made up of 4 positions for property owners (combination of commercial and residential, but no more than 2 residential), 3 positions for business owners and 2 positions for members-at-large (can be anyone within the greater Evergreen area that can demonstrate interest in the cultural district that is being created). Terms for the board will be 2 years with no limit on the number of terms that can be served if elected. The initial responsibility for EDC board members will be to meet approximately once a month to administer the goals of the EDC.

The organization and administration of the EDC will likely evolve potentially grow  over time to meet the changing needs of the community. The definition of the district boundaries are also flexible over time to grow as appropriate. Any such changes will be proposed and voted for by the district constituents as this EDC will truly be representative of the community that it serves.

Heart of Evergreen

Red Fox Run Front Rendering 1

These renderings do not yet show the "skin" of the home (the materials, textures and colors of the actual siding materials). The purpose of the massing model is to study the aesthetic massing in the context of the plans and the site, as well as study natural daylighting with the site orientation.

Red Fox Run Rear Rendering 1

Some of the details of the home begin to get developed at this stage, but we try to keep the home as "naked" as possible so we don't inadvertently compromise the creative process.

Red Fox Run Front Rendering 2

Step-by-step, as we develop the siding design, the model will change and adjust accordingly to become the final design for the home. The visuallization tools help the client tremendously in realizing the vision.

Red Fox Run Rear Rendering 2

The 3-D model is also posted and navigable in Freewheel at the following link:

Red Fox Run 3-D Model

Red Fox Run 3-D Model

Evergreen is a tight-knit community and like most small towns, has certain events that make it that way. The annual Evergreen Rodeo and Parade begins this week and runs June 18th - 20th! The roots of the annually hosted rodeo and it's accompanying parade go back as far as the 1930's and possibly began even earlier in the 1920's with local residents providing rodeo style entertainment for themselves and to guests at the historic Troutdale Resort. The Evergreen Rodeo was considered a local competition until the first recognized professional Rodeo took place here in 1947 and the current rodeo grounds in the El Pinal neighborhood were built in 1966. The rodeo has hosted many famous and legendary professional cowboys over the years including national and world champions and has seen the making of some rodeo records as well. Tickets for the Rodeo are available online and at many stores around Evergreen.

The weekend will officially begin at 7am with the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast in downtown Evergreen to be followed by the Main Street Rodeo Celebration at 9am and Parade at 10am. The parade (held every year over Father's Day weekend) has always been a big draw for residents and visitors to Evergreen, in it's own right. In fact, the celebration and parade is the only annual event that requires the closing of Highway 74. The main thoroughfare through town will be closed on Saturday from 9:30 am until 1pm from Douglas Park near the Excel Energy Building, around Evergreen Lake and through downtown Evergreen all the way to Meadow Drive. The theme of this year's parade is "A Salute to our Military Troops" and many local businesses and organizations will be providing floats and entertaining antics in the parade, which typically includes over 100 bands, floats, vehicles and other parade entries.

This year, EAS+Y (Evergreen's Alliance for Sustainability) is working with EDS to provide recycling bins along the parade route and will also be one of the last floats in the parade in order to help clean up along the parade route. We will be collecting and sorting out materials left behind along the parade route for recycling. Please join EV Studio Evergreen and EAS+Y at the parade and let's all help to keep Evergreen "Green" by placing recyclable refuse in the provided bins during the parade. Look for the "I'm EAS+Y!" t-shirts if you have any questions about sustainability or recycling as we help along the way!

While construction continues next door at "The Place" on Meadow Drive in Evergreen, the "Cafe @ The Place" may open as early as next week! EVstudio completed the plans for both spaces. The building, which previously housed The Carpet Exchange,  has been designed to be an important hub for the non-profit organizations of the mountain communities and is already leased to capacity once construction is completed. The building has a completely updated interior featuring office and storage spaces, flexible meeting areas, a tele-conferencing room and a fully equipped media room which are all powered by a brand new 30 kilowatt solar array on the roof.

The owner is hoping to open the Cafe doors to the public as early as Monday June 14th. The Cafe features a nearly 500 s.f. outdoor patio area in addition to over 1000 s.f. of interior retail space with a gas burning fireplace and mountain accents such as stone and barnwood finishes. Evergreen residents and visitors will soon have a new place to meet, sit down and share a steaming cup of Joe and a warm conversation.

Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is hosting the 3rd annual Habitat Hard Hats & High Heels fundraiser the evening of Saturday, June 12th at a fabulous 6,800 sq. ft. luxury home at Cub Creek Ranch in Evergreen. Donations from the event will help build the next Habitat for Humanity home in Evergreen, which is currently being designed by EVstudio.

Tickets are $50 per person.

The evening will include plentiful appetizers from local restaurants, live music, beautiful local art on display and for sale, and a terrific auction. Buy a commemorative wine glass (with wine!) and be eligible for great prizes. Everyone will receive a Blueprint for Fun and the opportunity to visit Habitat "stations" for more door prizes. Neither hard hats nor high heels are required for the event - just participate for a wonderful evening

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Driving Directions

There are standard guidelines for designing a Habitat for Humanity ‘Base House’ regarding size, floor, wall & roof systems, exterior materials, windows & doors, and heating & ventilation.  The guidelines vary depending on location.  EVstudio has worked on a number of projects with Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity which covers Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Park Counties. these are some of their base house design guidelines.

Each HFH home usually requires 3 bedrooms.  Two and four bedrooms homes are only built under special circumstances and requires approval.  Required program requires a living room, kitchen/dining area, bedrooms, and one or two bathrooms.  Blue Spruce Habitat homes typically do not require garages, carports or storage sheds.  Two & three bedroom homes each need to have one full bath, where a four bedroom home must have two.  All homes need to be provided with a laundry area to accommodate side-by-side washer & dryer units.  The square footage requirements are as follows: two bedroom-900 sf, three bedroom-1050 sf, and four bedroom-1150 sf.

Typical concrete slab foundations and 2x6 wall construction with R-19 fiberglass batt insulation is required.  Roof pitches are to be between 4 and 6:12, and must be asphalt shingles.  Alternative building materials such as straw-bale, rammed-earth, or adobe can be used only on a board-approved basis.  Crawlspaces require R-11 insulation applied to the inside of the foundation walls above grade.  Exterior walls need the standard structural sheathing, with Dow ‘Weather-mate’ house wrap installed on top.  1" Dow Styrofoam then needs to be installed on top of the house wrap.  Fiber-cement lap siding is typically required.  Vinyl and aluminum siding are not allowed.

Window selection is important to passively control heat loss or gain and to provide effective ventilation.  Vinyl, double-glazed, ‘Low-E’, Energy Star rated windows are required for occupant comfort and energy savings.  Exterior doors are to be insulated steel-clad or fiberglass.

Most Habitat homes will be provided with  a radiant floor heating system, if the qualified volunteers are available.  Otherwise, the home will be provided with a forced air heating system.

Interesting to note that Habitat base homes have very specific closet requirements.  All require a front entry closet, bedroom closets, a pantry, and linen closet.  Master bedroom closets need to provide a minimum length of five linear feet, and secondary bedrooms must provide four linear feet, each including one single rod and one twelve inch paint-grade shelf.  The linen and pantry closets need four paint-grade sixteen inch shelves, and the front entry closet needs one rod and twelve inch shelf.

The partner families are allowed to select certain items at no extra cost, such as carpet & vinyl flooring, window blinds, and counter/vanity tops.  The families are also involved in the design process and are allowed to review the designs and make minor adjustments to fit their needs, without altering the specified base home program.