The mining giant, the world's largest gold-mining outfit, currently occupys about 90,000 sf in floors 26 through 29. Starting this spring, it will begin moving into floors 35 through 37. Acquilano Leslie Inc. is handling the interior design into more efficient space, while San Francisco-based Swinerton Builders is constructing it.

The company considered other downtown buildings, as well as suburban sites, including a build-to-suit on land it owns near I-25 and Dry Creek Road along the southeast corridor. Rob Link and Lindsay Brown of the Denver office of Julien J. Studley handled the lease transaction. "This was a creative deal in many respects, and could not have been done without the spirit of cooperation between all parties," says Link, Studley's Denver branch manager.

By consolidating upward in the building, Newmont is gaining better view corridors of the metro area and mountains, but more importantly, its new space will reflect the mining company as it operates today and in the future, Link says. The Newmont space was designed to reduce the current requirement of four floors to a three floors, while accommodating a larger employee population.

This was achieved by reducing an excessive amount of dual circulation in the existing space, using smaller offices and eliminating all but the minimum amount of internal storage and filing space. The space includes several casual areas adjacent to the working environments that promote informal collaboration of the employees--something not promoted by the current, heavily partitioned environment.

Interior design elements included the use of earthy materials to reflect the nature of a geological or mining company. Although the density is higher, the space will feel much more open than the current environment, due to the extensive use of patterned glass on the perimeter that allows significant natural light throughout the offices.

The move is scheduled for late spring. Financial terms of the nine-year lease and interior work were not disclosed.