The other day I blogged about the updated design of Lower Downtown Denver’s 1755 Blake project and promised a higher-resolution image. Well, here you go:
Images are courtesy of the good folks at RNL Design.
New 1755 Blake Rendering
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Any idea of what's happening to the historic structure next to 1755 Blake? It used to house the Denver International Film Festival, but now seems forlornly empty.
I seem to remember reading somewhere when this project was first proposed (probably on this blog) that either the same developer or somebody else was interested in fixing up that old building in conjunction with the new one. Haven't heard anything since tho, maybe somebody else knows more.
I like that the developer's channel of choice is CNN. I'd prefer MSNBC, but I guess CNN is good enough.
I really like the futuristic feel of the inside of this building. I don't know if I'd like every building to look like that but it's good to get to it every now and then.
I know it's a rather small project..and all infill in Denver is good by me, but IMO this looks like a jumble of styles and no real cohesive substance. Can't a Denver architecture firm break some ground with a really clean and stylish building? Where is the talent in this community? Maybe the talent isn't here.
There's always an armchair architect out there who would have done a better job…
RNL Design is a group of very talented architects that created a distinctive, functional and efficient office building while integrating the look, feel and scale of the building within the surrounding neighborhood.
Let's not forget that the design was heavily scrutinized by the LoDo Design Review Committee which is by far the most stringent design review committee in the Rocky Mountain region. The final design, in my humble opinion, is a great combination of classic and modern, beautiful and efficient. A great addition to LoDo.
I guess nothing is ever good enough for some people. Anon 11:05, please allow me to apologize to you on behalf of the citizens of Denver for our total lack of talent. Maybe we should just give up!
Looks like someone from RNL is actually posting here…
Hmmmm.
The "jumble of styles" like it or not has become a trademark of Denver in my opinion. I admit I'm no expert on the subject but I think it all began with the set-back "pop-tops" on many historic LoDo buildings when they were converted to lofts. I was only a little kid at the time, but I remember when the Denver Library was built newspaper reviews talked about how the structure was intended to look like multiple buildings to reduce the overwhelming size to the onlooker.
This building resembles the EPA in my opinion with the darker facade matching height with the historic structure next door, and the glass portion sticking above as if detached and separate. It'll fit in great with the LoDo landscape.
If it's true that somemone from RNL is actually posting here, I think that's great. I hope that they and other developers and architects continue to do so. I hope they don't let shrill claims of "shill" deter them.
What exactly is a clean stylish building? Send me a link to an example so I know for future reference.
The lower downtown design review board (LDDRB) ends up really being the architect on all projects in LoDo. You can ask an architect to create something different and unique and the board always makes you come back to the same things that are being built. The developer and the architect are in a tough situation when it comes to design, form and massing in LoDo because of the overlay that has very unclear guidelines.
The more I look at this building the more I like it. I think it will look great once it is completed. I hope the parking lots at 17th and Blake and 1650 Blake (roughly) are developed soon. They are missing teeth in the otherwise exciting Blake Street.
The form and style of the building looks great to me. I like differing points of reference and depth. The only thing I could even begin to complain about is the exterior texture and color of those brick walls. I would have made them a more distinct color either much brigher or darker to create greater contrast between the glass facade and the solid walls; pehaps another great red brick facade so prevalent in LoDo or a dark slate or marble-stone facade. The current cream isn't my cup of tea as I think it is too bland, but not a detriment to the structure.
Cheers to another creative building going up in the Historic LoDo District!
"Shillspotter"-
If you are implying that I work for RNL Design, you are incorrect (but nice try). I have no allegiance to that company at all, I just like the way they designed 1755 Blake considering the circumstances (and I think that they have talent).
It is quite ignorant for someone to jump into a discussion and critisize a design that took many months to create. And to further insult a whole community by asserting that there are no talented architects around is downright ridiculous.
When you have taken a building design through the LDDRB approval process successfully, then you will have the credibility to critique this project. Until then, save your opinion for your myspace blog.
If you are an architect blogging on your own building, it would be nice if you would identify yourself. In all fairness to the Architects, if the client(developer) wants an ugly POS and the DRC wants predictable and boring, we can't blame the designer. I think this is a good building & RNL usually does decent stuff in Denver.
Since when did this become an inappropriate forum for individuals to voice their opinion? We all know what we like, whether we hold a degree in architecture or not.
That said, this building does appear a bit confused. I love how the SugarCube design preserved the historic feel at street level, then mixed in the modern up top… an all glass, street level façade in the middle of LoDo seems a bit incongruous. If nothing else, this building seems more appropriate for the CPV than LoDo.
I was excited about this project until this latest rendering (maybe all look better at night?) which brings back bad memories of a 1970 era lecture hall I spent too much time in. Smith Hall is in the background… http://chico.nss.udel.edu/buildings/NW34.html
On its own, the building looks good. When you look at it next to the small, old brick building to the left, it looks out of place.
But, as stated in an earlier comment, it is certainly better than what it replaced.
Wow, talent. Your assertions that the length of time an architect spends on his design and his difficulty getting it through the LDDRB makes that design worthwhile is laughable. Design is about aesthetic, not "but I worked really hard on this!" Your attack on the credentials of anon 11:05, who has every right to put forth his opinion, is ludicrous.
I, like the first poster, think it is a jumbled mix of different styles, but that it works moderately well. I don't think it will detract too much from its integration into the neighborhood. Better than stucco colotecture, I always say.
^^^^
I think talent is merely pointing out that what you might design and what eventually makes it through the brutal LDDRB review process are often very different.
The random placement of windows, coursing, exposed structure and cladding absolutely give this building a jumbled appearance. I suspect that’s the point. It’s almost as if the architect was trying to pull off Libeskind-style deconstructivism, but was reigned in by the design committee and we’ve been left with a half-breed that pulls off neither deconstructivism nor traditionalism gracefully.
I don’t like the placement of façade details or fenestration, I don’t like the materials (what are they, anyway?) and I don’t like the color palette. I *do* like the glass fin and I give them points for breaking up the mass into relatively well-proportioned pieces, but that’s small consolation.
Ultimately, we need better design guidelines in LoDo. If we don’t want deconstructivism, then we need the teeth (or will?) to shoot it down outright. If we do want deconstructivism, we need to allow it to happen unhindered. Personally, I’d rather shoot it down outright, except for very rare occasions when dealing with landmark buildings (a four story office in LoDo isn’t).
Wait till you see it in person… ugh… What a mess.
There are plenty of examples of recent 'clean and stylish' buildings. Look at any recent work from Foster or Piano for starters. Sure those are big names on big and distant projects, but h*ll, for a down-home, scale appropriate example of how to do this kind of building right – look no further than the SugarCube.