The Denver Botanic Gardens gets credit for bringing the city closer to nature, but its reverence for man-made objects has been equally important over the years. The gardens' buildings were designed by a who's who of the city's best architects.

Jules Jacques Benedict's 1922 Waring House with its graceful Tudor touches. The boldly modernist Boettcher Conservatory, created by Victor Hornbein and Edward D, White Jr. in 1966. David Owen Tryba's remarkable 2009 parking garage, fully integrated into the landscape. These are some of Denver's superstar structures.

The Denver Botanic Gardens has undergone several changes to its space, including the new $6 million Science Pyramid next to the sunken concert area. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)

Ben Niamthet's new Science Pyramid recognizes the tradition and understands what makes it great. The overall shape the pyramid is nearly as old as architecture itself. But like the designers before him, Niamthet tapped present-day engineering and aesthetic ideas to make it a building of its time.

The pyramid concept was actually the gardens' idea, specified in guidelines sent out for the design competition Niamthet won. Its master plan overseen by Tryba called for the form as a complement to both the classical statues and fountains that dot the 24-acre grounds, and the giant, flat-sided bowl next to it where the gardens presents its popular summer concert series.

The pyramid is an inversion of the bowl as if the mass that was within it was scooped out in one swoop and laid on its back.

Niamthet had his own ideas for a building that could house whiz-bang displays that teach about plant life in remote parts of the world. He conjured a 5,000-square-foot structure that appears to be rising out of the ground like a mountain, pressed into being by the grind of the Earth's tectonic plates. Like many of Colorado's tallest ridges, the building has an irregular outline; it is fractured down the middle, a design move that allowed for an uninterrupted slot of daylight to enter the building

The new modern bistro The Hive is next to the Monet Pool at the gardens.

"We didn't want to it to become just a four-sided triangle," said Niamthet, a principal at Denver's Burkett Design. "We wanted to make it something a little abstract to fit in with current architecture."

Niamthet "pushed and pulled" his pyramid into an object with 17 facets. It looks different from every angle and even takes on a ship-like bearing as it slips into the pond that surrounds it on the west side.

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Denver Botanic Garden's pyramid points toward its future

G.D. Palmer

G.D. Palmer is a freelance writer and illustrator living in Milwaukee, Wis. She has been producing print and Web content for various organizations since 1998 and has been freelancing full-time since 2007. Palmer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in writing and studio art from Beloit College in Beloit, Wis.

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The Average Cost of a Garage Addition | eHow

The wizard of Macomber Lane stands about 8 feet tall.

He towers over a bed of asters, echinacea and other flowers planted to attract butterflies in Debbie and Roger Matherly's front yard in Oakland Mills, clutching a staff nearly as big as himself with an owl perched on his shoulder and a fox standing watch at his foot.

He used to be a pine tree, but once his rotting branches started to threaten the Matherlys' roof, they knew it was time for a change. Instead of cutting down the pine and carting it off, they chose to take a more creative route.

"What if we have a statue there instead of a stump?" Roger Matherly said.

So the couple commissioned local carver Evelyn Mogren, who lives just two miles away on Thunder Hill Road, and about a month later, their stump was transformed into a wizard.

He's already cast his spell on the neighbors.

"I think it's awesome," said Kishonna McKenzie, who lives next door.

"It looks like that guy from the Lord of the Rings," her husband, Lamont McKenzie, added.

But the wizard almost couldn't work his magic on Columbia's covenants.

When the Matherlys brought their application to a village committee in charge of approving front-yard structures and other additions to a property, members decided not to give the wizard their blessing at least not if he stayed in front of the house.

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Wizard tree conjures up debate over art in Oakland Mills

Thursday, October 23, 2014, 11:56am

By Steve Adams

Banker & Tradesman Staff

Owners of James Hook & Co. would preserve their working seafood pound on the Boston waterfront while adding a 285-foot-tall residential tower under designs unveiled Wednesday.

William Zielinski, a principal at developer SKW Partners Inc., said the Hook family considered other uses, including offices and hotels before settling on a residential tower - either apartments or condos - for the half-acre site at the corner of Northern and Atlantic avenues.

"They will remain and look forward to seeing their business reunited and expanded," Zielinski said.

The original building where the fourth-generation seafood wholesaler operated was destroyed by fire in 2008. Since then, the business has been operating out of temporary buildings that would be removed to make way for the new development.

The seafood market, wholesale business and sit-down restaurant with outdoor seating on the harbor side would occupy 9,000 square feet on the ground floor of the new building.

"We've got plenty of permeability and light and air around the building," architect David Manfredi said.

The presentation took place during a meeting of the Downtown Waterfront Municipal Harbor Planning Advisory Committee, which is advising the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) on development along the central waterfront.

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Hook Lobster Redevelopment: Residential Tower, Sit-Down Restaurant

October 23, 2014

Deal Watch Today

Weeks after downtown Hartford's distressed CityPlace II skyscraper landed a new owner, a healthier office tower directly opposite 100 Pearl Street is on the sale block without an asking price.

Short Hills, N.J., landlord The Silverman Group is selling the 17-story building sheathed in sapphire-blue glass it bought two years ago, paying a reported $18 million cash for the tower at the northeast corner of Pearl and Trumbull that at the time was about two-thirds vacant.

A digital flyer circulating from the Hartford office of CBRE/New England, which has the listing, claims 100 Pearl's approximately 281,000 square feet is 99 percent leased. Corporate tenants include Virtus Investment Partners, Updike Kelly & Spellacy, Guilford Specialty Group, First Niagara, First National Title, Ricoh USA, Regus, Environ and Robert Half International, and the nonprofit Greater Hartford Arts Council.

According to the flyer, 100 Pearl Street offers a first-year in-place net operating income of $3.2 million annually, with few of its current leases due to expire in the short term. Its underground parking garage yields another $600,000 in revenue a year.

Silverman has invested some $2.3 million in the building, the flyer says. Those include a revamped main entryway and six-story foyer, with concierge station. Other additions include an expanded fitness suite and fourth-floor caf area with a pool table and flat-screen TVs.

The building debuted in 1989 and for a time was headquarters for former Mechanics Savings Bank, now part of Webster Bank.

Officials with The Silverman Group and CBRE/New England did not immediately return calls Thursday for comment.

Listing of 100 Pearl comes just two months after a Monroe, N.Y. investment group paid $20.6 million for CityPlace II, 185 Asylum St., at a foreclosure auction in August. That building was previously owned by Northland Investment Corp.

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Hartford's 100 Pearl skyscraper for sale

Restoration Hardware Holdings, the home-furnishings retailer, has signed a 15-year lease to take the building at 9-19 Ninth Avenue. BKSK Architects LLP and Wormser + Associates Architects will lead the redesign.

The two-story structure will be renovated and expanded with three additional floors to create about 70,000 square feet of space. The original structure has gone through several changes and additions, including housing stables, a parking garage, and a marketplace.

The plans for the building call for a metal and glass exterior screen. Framing the textured glass, these metal sections echo the canopies, fire escapes, and signs that once hung off buildings in the neighborhood. Once construction completes, the building will have a wraparound terrace on the third floor and a large outdoor space on the fifth floor.

Restoration Hardwares largest store format averages 21,600 square feet, and the company is beginning to introduce large gallery stores that range from 25,000 to 60,000 square feet.

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Restoration Hardware Moves into the Meatpacking District

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By Steve Tawa

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) Early next month, gamblers who want to try their hand at poker will be able to have a seat inside Philadelphias first poker room.

Today, crews began unloading poker tables at the Sugarhouse Casino, near the Delaware riverfront.

Sugarhouse general manager Wendy Hamilton, game for anything, grabbed some bolt cutters, flexed her muscles, then broke the seal on the back of one tractor-trailer.

Then, poker tables were unloaded and wheeled into Sugarhouses interim poker room, located on the south side of the property, facing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

We found a way to put this temporary structure up, just in the meantime, Hamilton says. This will house 24 poker tables, so thats 240 playing positions, she says.

The temporary facility will be in place only until their permanent poker room opens, part of a $164-million expansion that includes new event space, restaurants, and a parking garage.

Itll be a very nice, elegant room, once we get into that permanent space, Hamilton tells KYW Newsradio.

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Tables Arrive as Sugarhouse Begins Assembling Its Poker Room

Sources told the publication that the show will air in a primetime slot, but it doesn't yet have a premiere date, nor is it clear how frequently the regular series will broadcast.

Since departing the 'Tonight Show', Jay has toured the US with his stand-up comedy show, hosted an awards show in Jerusalem and also seen his web series 'Jay's Garage' air on NBC.com, while CNBC aired a special, 'Jay's Garage: The Ultimate Car Week' recently.

The veteran broadcaster was reportedly courted by a number of other stations, including CNN, A&E, History and the Tribune but wanted to stay loyal to NBCUniversal.

CNBC - which, like NBC, is owned by NBCUniversal - is mainly known for financial news but has been trying to broaden its viewership with new additions to its programming such as financial game show 'Shark Tank' and reality programmes 'The Profit' and 'Restaurant Startup'.

NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt had previously expressed his desire to have Jay remain with the network after he departed his long-running late night show, which is now fronted by Jimmy Fallon.

He said: "Nothing would make us happier than for him, a la Bob Hope, to still be a presence on the network."

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Jay Leno is close to finalising a return to TV.

From a Grade II-listed seaside cottage in Cornwall to a Georgian country house in Wales and two-bed Victorian flat in southwest London.

Barley Mount, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. A Grade II-listed Georgian house with views of the Towy Valley towards the Brecon Beacons. The house has beamed ceilings, flagstone floors and open fireplaces. 3 beds, bath, 3 receps, breakfast kitchen, courtyard outbuildings, gardens, pastureland, 10 acres. 499,950 Savills 02920-368930. Gauden Road, London SW4. This top floor flat in a Victorian house is in a popular residential street close to Clapham High Street and Clapham Common with good transport connections and close to a range of bars, shops, cafes and restaurants. 2 beds, bath, recep, kitchen, leasehold. 499,950 Marsh & Parsons 020-7501 3666. Gray Cottage, Maugersbury, Gloucestershire. A traditional Cotswold stone cottage rebuilt in 1800 with an extension added in the 1970s. It has open fireplaces and views across the surrounding countryside and mature garden. 3 beds, bath, recep, breakfast kitchen, utility, cloakroom, gardens. 495,000 Butler Sherborn 01451-830731. Jasmine Cottage, Quay Road, Charlestown, Cornwall. A cottage that is part of a terrace of Grade II-listed cottages overlooking the harbour and village of Charlestown. It has period fireplaces, sash windows and front and rear gardens. 3 beds, bath, 2 receps, kitchen, outbuildings, summer house. 485,000 Savills 01872-243200. Kings Bank, Polstead Hill, Polstead, Suffolk. A Grade II-listed village house with open fireplaces, Aga woodburners and a breakfast kitchen with bi-folding doors overlooking the terrace. 3 beds, 2 baths, 2 receps, utility, garden room/workshop, cloakroom, small garage/store, garden. 475,000 Carter Jonas 01787-882881. Ousenstand, Temple Sowerby, Cumbria. A mid-19th-century, renovated farmhouse and attached unconverted barn, in an elevated position with views across the Eden Valley. It has wood floors and beamed ceilings. 4 beds, bath, 2 receps, kitchen, utility, garden, paddock, 1 acre. 485,000 PF&K 01768-862135. The Thatched Cottage, Streatley, Bedfordshire. A Grade II-listed cottage in a popular conservation area, dating from 1460 with later additions. It has exposed beams and brickwork, inglenook fireplaces and attractive cottage gardens. 3 beds, bath, 3 receps, study, kitchen, cloakroom, garage, gardens. 499,995 Strutt & Parker 01582-764343. West House, Thursby, Carlisle. A Grade II-listed, 19th century house on the edge of a village. It has period fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, sash windows and a large kitchen. 5 beds, 3 baths, 3 receps, study, open plan kitchen/living area, workshop, stores, garden, 0.5 acres. 550,000 Smiths Gore 01228-546400.

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Properties for around 500,000

Jay Leno is close to finalising a return to TV.

The 64-year-old presenter - who departed NBC's 'Tonight Show' in February after 22 years at the helm - is said to be negotiating a deal to host a show for cable network CNBC and, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the programme will focus on his long-time love of cars.

Sources told the publication that the show will air in a primetime slot, but it doesn't yet have a premiere date, nor is it clear how frequently the regular series will broadcast.

Since departing the 'Tonight Show', Jay has toured the US with his stand-up comedy show, hosted an awards show in Jerusalem and also seen his web series 'Jay's Garage' air on NBC.com, while CNBC aired a special, 'Jay's Garage: The Ultimate Car Week' recently.

The veteran broadcaster was reportedly courted by a number of other stations, including CNN, A&E, History and the Tribune but wanted to stay loyal to NBCUniversal.

CNBC - which, like NBC, is owned by NBCUniversal - is mainly known for financial news but has been trying to broaden its viewership with new additions to its programming such as financial game show 'Shark Tank' and reality programmes 'The Profit' and 'Restaurant Startup'.

NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt had previously expressed his desire to have Jay remain with the network after he departed his long-running late night show, which is now fronted by Jimmy Fallon.

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Jay Leno negotiating TV return