John Rebchook is a former Rocky Mountain News reporter with more than 30 years of experience in writing and communications... 
By John Rebchook, on February 3rd, 2010
The Denver Coliseum is the subject of this year's Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge between CU and DU.
A Who’s Who of local architects, developers, bankers, consultants and other real experts have been chosen as judges for this year’s Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge.
The challenge, in which about 50 graduate real estate students from the University of Colorado and the University of Denver compete against each other, were chosen by NAIOP Colorado.
This year, the students will determine the highest and best use for the redevelopment of the Denver Coliseum. It marks the 8th challenge.
“These professionals represent the best and brightest in our industry, and we are pleased to announce their involvement in this year’s challenge” said Al Colussy, principal with the architectural firm klipp, and chair of this year’s Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge Committee.
Architect and judge selections were made based on relevant experience,expertise, and community involvement. After a three-month selection process beginning last October, NAIOP selected from dozens of potential honorees,ultimately choosing seven architectural firms and eleven judges to take part in this year’s Challenge, which culminates with student presentations at a banquet dinner on May 5.
The selected architects will be paired with one of seven student teams from the University of Denver and the University of Colorado. The architects will work with the students in an attempt to present the winning presentation at the May hearing oral presentations. The judges’ responsibilities will culminate with an hour-long question and answer session in which the judges will put the students’ development program and project knowledge to the ultimate test – an economic and sustainable future for the Coliseum.
The judges include:
Marshall Burton of McWhinney; Patricia Gage, Senior Vice President, Colorado Business Bank; Mary Beth Jenkins, President, The Laramie Co.; Richard McClintock, President, Westfield Development Co., Inc.; Douglas McKinnon, Principal, The Lionstone Group; Lynda McNeive, Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck law firm; Blake Mourer, Design Director, Gensler Architecture; Bruce O’Donnell, Investment Banker, George K. Baum & Co.; Larry Pobuda, Partner, Stewart Lawrence Group; Sam Sharp, Senior Vice President, DA Davidson Co.; Charles Woolley, President, St. Charles Town Co., LLC.
More than 650 people are expected to attend the event.
The City of Denver and RTD have teamed up with NAIOP for this year’s challenge ,which asksstudent teams to evaluate and make recommendations for the Denver Coliseum’s redevelopmentas they compete with one another to present viable proposals. The city will take into account the students’ suggestions as future options for the site are developed.During the next three months, nearly 50 students will analyze every aspect of the feasibility ofredevelopment and will ultimately present their findings to the City at the banquet event on May 5.
Ticket sales for the event will be open to the public in early March.
Contact John Rebchook at JRCHOOK@gmail.com or 303-945-6865.
