New Operations, Maintenance & Administrative Building

Parker Water & Sanitation District (PWSD) is building a new Operations, Maintenance & Administrative building to be located on our property across the street from the Rueter-Hess Water Purification Facility (RHWPF), off Ancestry Drive (formerly Heirloom Parkway) and Hess Road. 

We are undertaking this project for many reasons, but the most significant driver is that the region PWSD serves (including the Town of Parker, City of Lone Tree, City of Castle Pines, and several Douglas County enclaves) and PWSD itself are growing rapidly and we have outgrown our current facility. Specifically, our existing administrative facility, located on the site of the North Water Reclamation Facility (NWRF), does not have room to expand and the building needs extensive updates in order to keep up with both technological and space demands.

Why did you choose this location?

After reviewing multiple PWSD-owned sites, the Rueter-Hess location was selected due to its centralized location within the district and, specifically, its proximity to the Rueter-Hess Reservoir and Water Purification Facility. Additionally, the location is also large enough to allow all departments and staff to come together in one space, meets PWSD’s projected 20-year growth needs, and allows for future expansion if needed. 

What will the building look like?

As part of the project, the two-story, 102,000 sf building will co-locate a total of 180 administrative, operations, and maintenance professionals across two curved (segmented) levels. The new sustainable space will be built to house maintenance bays, an open-plan workplace, and a high-performance water quality laboratory. 

The design was inspired by a drop of water’s concentric rings of outward momentum and the ceremonial circles used by Native American tribes who once lived in the area. The shape also fits the site's topography better, allowing for reduced excavation costs. 

What is the timeline for the project?

The project is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. We broke ground on the project in Spring 2022 and anticipate the building will be completed in Fall 2023.

What is the budget for this? Will it affect my rates?

The construction budget for this project is $53 million. While all projects completed by PWSD have an impact on rates, the costs for this project were part of the District’s long-term capital plan and therefore included in our long-term rate plans along with many other necessary projects and costs. 

How will it impact the surrounding community?

The most direct impacts will be felt by neighbors in the Heirloom neighborhood. We will share information as it becomes available, but generally speaking, we anticipate increased traffic through the neighborhood, particularly on weekdays, and there will be construction noise and vehicles present throughout the day. 

PWSD is implementing the following to help mitigate community impacts:

• PWSD vehicles and contractors are instructed to use the Hess Road entrance to the site rather than neighborhood streets whenever possible.  
• Construction will not begin before 7 am except in certain instances, in which case we will request a variance from Douglas County.  
• In an effort to limit nighttime impacts, we will be taking a “dark skies” approach to the building. This means avoiding the use of uplighting and limiting downlighting to minimum required levels.  
• The new building will have indoor parking for a number of our fleet vehicles, which means neighbors will not have to view the majority of vehicles after hours. This also means we can reduce the need to provide security lighting in the parking lot.  
• The building has been designed to seamlessly integrate into the natural grading of the hillside, rather than on top of it, in an effort to minimize disruption to neighborhood views and sightlines. 

How will the community benefit from the building? 

PWSD is planning to make a portion of the building available to the community for reservations on evenings and weekends; the details of that opportunity are still being worked out. Additionally, a demonstration garden and examples of new irrigation technology will be available; tours of the garden and other educational opportunities will be offered.  

How will the site respect the history of the Parker area? 

The Rueter-Hess Reservoir and RHWPF sites have a rich history of Native American culture. Inspired by prayer circles that have been discovered at the reservoir, the building entrance faces east. The lobby will feature an educational component and be designed to honor the past, the present, and the future.  

Will it impact any businesses?

We don't anticipate any impacts to local businesses; the site of the building is located on existing PWSD property and is removed from any commercial spaces. 

Who are the partners on this project?

We have contracted with Perkins & Will for the building design and JHL for construction services. 

Will the building incorporate any new and interesting technologies?

PWSD is committed to building a new headquarters that is as sustainable as possible. We are looking into making sustainable choices in building performance, windows/energy/solar power, water, ecology, and indoor air quality and materials. Based on our current plans, the technologies and innovations we are installing would be equivalent to a Gold LEED certification level.

Who should the public contact about the project? 

Inquiries about the project may be directed to the PWSD Engineering Department.