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Thomas J. Ver Straate 
PE, LEED AP

President

EDUCATION
Colorado State University, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, 1990.

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REGISTRATION

  • Licensed/Registered Professional Engineer in 21 US States

  • U.S. Green Building Council LEED Accredited Professional

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PROFESSIONAL

  • United States Green Building Council (USGBC)

  • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

  • National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)

Tom Ver Straate serves as the Principal In Charge of Mechanical Engineering and Project Engineer. Tom has been with The Ballard Group, Inc. since 1999 and has a total of 33 years of engineering experience.  He began his time with TBG as an HVAC Project Engineer in 1999 and worked his way up through Associate Principal, Secretary/Treasurer, and finally became President in April 2004. In addition to currently holding Professional Engineering Licenses in 21 states, including Colorado, he is also a LEED Accredited Professional by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

 

Along with the other Principals, he establishes the HVAC system building design criteria, is involved in space planning, and is responsible for providing energy-efficient mechanical designs that meet each project's expectations and budget. He designs new and upgraded mechanical systems from the initial Schematic Design, permitting, and Construction Documents, through the final construction providing submittal review, site observations, and reports to the owner to verify that the project is being built to our design standards. He coordinates projects with owners, architects, and other engineering disciplines during and following design, he supervises and oversees the work of HVAC designers, engineers, and draftsmen; as well as overseeing and providing quality control for designs drawn under his responsible charge; and contributes to construction administration services.  He also troubleshoots and provides assessments of existing mechanical systems.

 

He's designed mechanical systems for over 450 projects and supervised/overseen many hundreds more new build or renovation/remodels. These additional projects include 45 commercial buildings; 160 medical including hospitals, medical office buildings, clinics, and laboratories; 140 K-12 schools; 15 university buildings; and 60 assessment/troubleshoot reports, among many others.

PROJECT EXPERIENCE
The following projects are a select sampling of Mr. Ver Straate's extensive project experience. If you are interested in getting a full resume of his most recent experience for a specific RFQ/P please Contact Us.

 

University Experience

  • Colorado College | Colorado Springs, Colorado

    • Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center LEED Gold Certified

  • Colorado State University | Fort Collins, Colorado

    • Athletic Academic Training Center LEED Gold Certified

    • Indoor Practice Facility LEED Gold Certified

  • Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, Colorado

    • The Maverick Center

  • University of Wyoming | Laramie, Wyoming

    • Buchanan Performing Arts Facility LEED Certification of Existing Building in Progress

    • Half Acre Gym, Phase I LEED Certification of Existing Building in Progress

    • Half Acre Gym, Phase II LEED Certification of Existing Building in Progress

    • Energy Retrofit of Ten (10) Campus Buildings

  • Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor, Michigan

    • The Health & Fitness Center LEED Gold Certified

  • Western State Colorado University | Gunnison, Colorado

    • Mountaineer Field House LEED Gold Certified
       

K-12 School Experience

  • Denver Public Schools (DPS), Bryant Webster K-8, Colfax, Cowell, Edison, Smedley Elementary, West High School, Mechanical Upgrades | Denver, Colorado

  • Kiowa County School District (KCSD) Plainview Elementary | Sheridan Lake, Colorado

  • St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD), Lyons Elementary | Lyons, Colorado

  • Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), Dunstan Middle School, Addition | Lakewood, Colorado

  • JCPS Ken Caryl Middle School, Addition | Littleton, Colorado

  • Aurora Public Schools (APS), Central High School, Renovation | Aurora, Colorado

  • DPS Isabella Bird ECE-Grade 5 Community School, New | Denver, Colorado

  • Hi-Plains School District R-23 (HPSD), Hi-Plains K-12 School, New | Siebert, Colorado LEED Gold Certified

  • DPS Swigert Elementary & McAuliffe Middle International Schools | Denver, Colorado LEED Silver Certified

 

Medical Experience

  • Estes Park Medical Center | Estes Park, Colorado

    • Emergency Department Addition & Remodel

  • Yuma Hospital | Yuma, Colorado

    • New Build, Radiology Department, Ambulance Barn

  • Yampa Valley Medical Center | Steamboat Springs, Colorado

    • Multiple Projects including: New Facility in 1997; Expansion, Infill Additions and Renovations in 2007; Wellness Entry Snowmelt; OR & OB; Radiation Department Remodel; Pre-Op Recovery; OR Smoke Control; Sterile Processing

  • Spectrum Health United Memorial Hospital | Greenville, Michigan

    • Multiple Projects over 7+ years, including: Three-Story Addition, Lab Renovation, Physician’s Sleep Room, Chapel, Cancer Center, Master Plan, West Wing Infrastructure, OB Upgrades, Lab Renovation, OB Induction Room, O.R. Addition & Renovation, Renovations of Lobby, Registration Area, Women’s and Main Imaging, 4 Post-Partum Rooms & Support, LDR Renovation, Physician’s Lounge Relocation

  • Denver Health & Hospital Authority | Denver, Colorado

    • Multiple Projects for Denver Health including: Montbello Clinic, Phase II & Smoke Evacuation; Pavilion “A” Penthouse, IT Closet; Parkhill Community Health Clinic; Denver Health Medical Center, San-I-Pak; Main Hospital, Units 1, 5 & 9, Elevator Modernization; Sterile Processing Renovation, Phases I, II & III; Eye Clinic Renovation
       

Recreation & Wellness Center Experience

  • Castle Pines Pavilion | Castle Pines, Colorado

  • Buffalo Ridge Recreation Center | Commerce City, Colorado

  • Gold Crown Enrichment Center | Edgewater, Colorado

  • Cheyenne YMCA, Energy Retrofit | Cheyenne, Wyoming

  • Eaton Area Community Center | Eaton, Colorado

  •  South Suburban Parks & Recreation, Ice Arena & Golf Clubhouse | Centennial, Colorado

  • Woodland Aquatic Center | Woodland Park, Colorado

  • Moorhead Recreation Center | Moorhead, Colorado

  • Sidney Outdoor Aquatics Center | Sidney, Nebraska

  • Hobbs Health, Wellness & Learning Center | Hobbs, New Mexico

  • Carla Madison Recreation Center | Denver, Colorado LEED Gold Certified

  • Windsor Community Recreation Center, New Build (2003-4) & Expansion (2015-2016) | Windsor, Colorado

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Library & Museum Experience

  • Lone Tree Library | Lone Tree, Colorado

  • Hadley Branch Library | Denver, Colorado

  • United States Olympic Museum | Colorado Springs, Colorado

  • The Wildlife Experience Museum, New Build (2004) including IMAX Theater, Globeology Expansion (2008), additional renovations & expansions (through 2017) | Lone Tree, Colorado

  • Children’s Museum Renovation | Denver, Colorado

  • Gypsum Library | Gypsum, Colorado

  • Rifle Library | Rifle, Colorado LEED Gold Certified

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