The eastern part of downtown Aspen is home to the Spring Building, one of the most eco-friendly buildings in the city’s commercial core. Once a dismal and meager office space slated for demolition, developer Michael Rudin salvaged the property in the spring of 2010. Rudin, only 27 at the time, took on the Spring Building Aspen as his first project separate from his family’s business in real estate development and leasing in New York City. In addition to the reconstruction of the two commercial and retail spaces, Rudin envisioned crafting a 2,000-square-foot penthouse on a third level so he, too, could bask in the luxury Aspen offers. After completion of the C-1 zoned properties, tenants eagerly lined up to rent out the chic office space offered on level two. Currently, David Johnson Architects and attorney Matt Ferguson claim some of Aspen’s hottest commercial space in the Spring Building. Although the building was originally deemed a “sleeper property” for its location on the peripherals of downtown Aspen, Spring Café and the green approach has revitalized the corner.
Easily referred to as one of the greenest commercial and office buildings in town, the building boasts an extensive list of eco-friendly initiatives. Complete with full geothermal heating and cooling and solar panels, the building maintains almost zero net-energy. This goal is achieved through green innovations such as photovoltaics, geothermal and the use of highly efficient mechanical equipment. To add to its beauty, the building is surrounded by two street-level gardens and a wall of plants that require very little water to survive due to innovations in Xeriscaping. Thirteen geothermal wells tap water underneath the building that cools and heats the commercial area. The Spring building is part of the revitalization of downtown Aspen real estate and serves as a constant reminder of the beauty Aspen offers just beyond the city. Once a sleeper property, the Spring Building Aspen is now a valued location and boasts once of Aspen’s greenest and luxurious pieces of real estate downtown.