BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (April 6, 2009) When compared to other major U.S. cities, Denver has long been a frontrunner in the green movement, with its government constantly aiming for high marks in energy efficiency, water conservation, alternative energy sources and recycling. This commitment set the stage for Spire, a pioneering sustainable residential development in downtown Denver. An attainably priced condominium tower targeted for LEED(R)certification, Spire is scheduled to open later this year. Commanding attention at 42 stories high, with 496 units and more than 527,000 square feet of available floor space, Spire was developed to meet a variety of sustainable objectives. The primary goal is offering attainable green living, giving people with modest incomes the ability to lower their carbon footprints by living in a condominium tower with many sustainable and energy-efficient features. In addition, the developments location provides residents with an urban living experience in the heart of downtown Denver. This infill site is within walking distance from Denvers office core; arts and cultural attractions; sporting venues; and entertainment and dining districts. It also provides easy access to public transportation, including city buses, light rail, and car rental service. Spire homes are designed to be contemporary and attractive for young professionals in the 25- to 40-year-old demographic. To achieve an attainable price, the unit sizes in Spire are relatively small (average 1,063 square feet per unit), in one- to three-bedroom floor plans; however, residents have the extra advantage of more than 35,000 square feet of common area amenities. Simply put, Spire will enable a broader group of people to live a sustainable urban lifestyle. One important step in making a development more sustainable and achieving LEED certification is choosing ENERGY STAR(R)qualified appliances for the utmost in energy efficiency. With this in mind, Nichols Partnership, Spires developer, chose Whirlpool(R)Gold appliances as a standard on all but Spires top 10 floors, which feature KitchenAid(R)appliances. We knew that Whirlpool(R)Gold and KitchenAid(R)appliances would not only help us to meet our sustainability goals, but also provide our customers with a very appealing, contemporary interior design and excellent value. Whirlpool Corporation is aligned with our effort to provide a value-oriented project that is both attainable and sustainable, said Christopher Crosby, executive vice resident of Nichols Partnership. With more ENERGY STAR(R)qualified appliances than any other appliance manufacturer, Whirlpool Corporation considers sustainability a top priority. It is our goal to provide our builder and developer customers with appliance packages that save energy, water and promote healthy indoor air quality, said Tracy Frye, senior contract marketing manager at Whirlpool Corporation. Were here to make specifying sustainable appliances as easy as possible. Spires layout consists of ground level retail space, an eight-story parking garage, with 33 stories of condominium units arising from it. The retail space is expected to include an upscale restaurant-nightclub, a coffeehouse, a yoga/spinning studio and a satellite location for Connect by Hertz, an innovative car-sharing service. Amenities, located on Levels 9,10 and 41, will include an outdoor pool, hot tubs, a fire pit, clubrooms, a screening theater and health club facilities. Sales commence in April for Spires condominiums ranging in price from $200,000 to $1 million plus and the development is expected to open for occupancy in November. Whirlpool Corporation works to exceed homeowner expectations with appliances that help building professionals create homes of distinction. The companys The Inside Advantage Program offers Powerful Brands, Innovative Products, Targeted Services and Consumer Insight to support building professionals. About Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $19 billion, 70,000 employees and 69 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. The company markets Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid, Jenn-Air, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, Bauknecht and other major brand names to consumers in nearly every country around the world. For more information on Whirlpool Corporation and its offerings for building professionals, please visit insideadvantage.com or call 1-800-253-3977. About Nichols Partnership The Nichols Partnership, Inc. specializes in the development of commercial and multi-family real estate in Denver and other prime Colorado markets. The firm has been highly successful in isolating underserved markets with niche development opportunities that meet local demand. Innovative architectural design and premium materials are inherent in all of Nichols Partnerships developments, creating real estate products that enhance their communities and improve with age.
