On Thursday, the Lower Downtown Design Review Board gave final approval to the building elevations for 1515 Wynkoop, a major infill project planned by Hines for the intersection of 15th and Wynkoop on Block 013 in Lower Downtown. The only approvals now remaining are for storefront and signage details, which should occur over the next few months. The project, an 8-story 300,000 SF office building with ground-floor retail, is scheduled to break ground in March 2007. For some history on the project, read my blogs of March 3 and May 8, or check out this very informative press release from Hines.

Over the past six months or so, I’ve had the chance to watch the evolution of the design of this project as it has been under review by the LDDRB. I’ve been particularly impressed with Hines project manager Jay Despard and Hartman-Cox architect Graham Davidson and how successfully they have guided this project through the city’s design and approval process. With Thursday’s approval by the Board, Hines is now taking the building’s design public. Thanks to the good folks at Hines, I’m happy to debut these high-resolution images of 1515 Wynkoop:

Wynkoop Street Elevation (Left), 15th Street Elevation (Right)

With the renovation of the historic Saddlery Building into condos and the Postal Annex demolition and subsequent construction of the 1515 Wynkoop and EPA buildings, the 1500 block of Wynkoop will have transformed from a drab, pedestrian-unfriendly LoDo dead zone into a bustling, pedestrian-friendly LoDo hotspot.