"I don't think a Denver project has ever been a finalist in this competition before," Randy Nichols, principal of Nichols Partnership, the developer of Clayton Lane tells GlobeSt.com. "It is quite an honor. We're very flattered."

The development was designed by David Owen Tryba Architects of Denver. Clayton Lane is a redevelopment of 9.5 acres adjacent to the existing Sears Roebuck & Co. store, which remains on the site. The project includes the 171,000-sf world headquarters for the Janus mutual fund family, the only J.W. Marriott hotel in the state, and street-level retail such as Crate and Barrel.

The Clayton Lane redevelopment also included 25 high-end residential lofts, two urban plazas, and four levels of underground parking. The redevelopment successfully rejuvenated the area, adding bustling day and evening activity to streets that used to be dormant, according to the ULI. The development spans three blocks and has two urban plazas. The $70 million J.W. Marriott has 143,000 sf and 197 rooms. The first phase was completed in 2002 and the second phase in 2004.