Back last fall I obtained this rendering of the proposed new State of Colorado Office Building planned for the corner of Colfax and Lincoln, but I was told at the time that the project was on hold until the State figured out where to build the new Colorado History Museum, so I held off on posting it. The project is one component of the State’s plans to reshuffle office space around the Capitol Complex, including the construction of its new Colorado Judicial Center at 14th and Broadway/Lincoln. Hopefully, funding for all of these projects will be finalized during this year’s General Assembly which just got underway. Anyway, here’s the rendering, even though there’s still the possibility that a.) the project won’t happen or, b.) the design may change. Either way, this rendering, courtesy of David Tryba Architects, shows a pretty sharp-looking building where there’s currently a parking lot. I like how the new building connects to the existing state office building at Colfax and Sherman through a common atrium. I’d love to see this one get built.
is there a retail component, or are we just dreaming that there will ever be more than a 9-5 use pattern facing Civic Center?
This is a very nice looking building. It is one on my favorites by David Tryba Architects, which I think is one of the most talented firms in Colorado. I like how the taller section of the building to the left mirrors, but does not totally copy, the existing building at Colfax and Sherman. I also really like the large balcony overlooking Civic Center Park. Of all of the locations considered for the Colorado History Museum this one is the least appropriate. Let's hope the Legislature approves this building, in its current design, soon so construction can begin.
HELP! I am so confused about the Midland Savings Building by Fisher & Fisher. I see one in extant in Denver, but what was demolished and had parts set up in the Denver Botanical Gardens? In the imortal words of Douglas McCarthur, "I shall return." Einar
The municiple buildings in Seattle look fantastic. This reminded me of that. I like the design of this alot.
does there really have to be a retail component with every new building? cmon.
Anon 12:02 – There absolutely should be a retail/restaurant component of this building. One of the reasons that Civic Center Park is so dead is that there is nothing around there except for the art museum and library. If we surrounded it with things that people actually would want to use, maybe the park would become more active. More residential in the Golden Triangle would help too. People have focused largely on improving Civic Center Park itself, but I think the problem is that there's nothing surrounding it that people actually use on a regular basis.
That is a really nice looking building.
Einar, what are you talking about?!?!
Did David Tryba design the building? I thought Shears Atkins was the designer and Tryba just did the construction documents?
WOW… This looks great. What are the chances of this happening this year? Or are we talking three years down the road if it actually gets approved?
Speaking of the history museum in Civic Center, I've heard through the grapevine that the idea is dead, which disappoints me for a variety of reasons.
I agree with the others–this building is an excellent one for the site. I particularly like the way the Lincoln facade's windows are recessed–this rendering shows a wonderful light/shadow effect.
And yes, retail belongs in that space on the corner–as long as it's not another Subway or Starbucks.
The overall building looks good from afar and I like how the massing is nicely divided on the parcel. However, the street level facade along Colfax is not good. If you look closely, you can see a stair accessing the podium and a garage entry along Colfax. Only the corner or Lincoln has activity. That creates a wall along Colfax which is not very friendly to people walking to and from Capital Hill. The Seattle reference is a good one. The new City Hall has a site on a very steep grade and the building does a better job addressing the edges. It also creates a series of public spaces that cut through the buildings. This building will benefit by addressing these public space issues in a more substantial way. I see the elevated plaza space at Lincoln, but the separation appears to provide limited public access or be for the primary use of the workers in the building. The edges and public spaces should be much improved for a major public building on the corner of Civic Center Park.
Ok maybe this is just me, but isn't the purpose of retail outside of buildings like this one, so that people can get out of the work place/ (place of business) and walk the MALL and shop?
The building was designed in collaboration between Shears Adkins Architects and Tryba Architects and should be credited as such.
Mixed results.
GOOD:
1. The façade along Lincoln is very nice.
2. I like the various protrusions and recessions. Good way to generate visual interest.
3. The color palette of gentle blues and grayscale is contemporary and very attractive.
4. Nice that they’ve given a nod to the important corner by making it the most interesting part of the building.
BAD:
1. The sidewalk level utterly sucks. Even if it has retail (which it definitely needs at such a high-profile intersection), there is far too much blank wall.
2. I’m not at all crazy about the vintage 1975 vertical windows on the far right of the Colfax façade. That element just screams “prison”.
3. The rooftop plaza is totally counterproductive to encouraging people to actually use Civic Center Park, which for goodness sake is right across the street. Seriously. Incorporating an open space element into this building is one of the worst things you could possibly do. Putting it on the second level even further removed from the actual park is that much worse.
Ultimately it’s clear that the decision makers set out to design an attractive office building, but gave little to no thought to its location in the larger context. Put this building on Colorado Blvd and I’d give it an A; at this location, where the sculptural beauty of the upper floors is less important than how the building guides pedestrian interaction between downtown and the park, it’s no better than a C.
^ To clarify, the building along Colfax with the vertical windows is an existing state office building from that era. The glass atrium to the left of those windows, as well as the new building at the corner and along Lincoln, is the proposed new project.
There's already so much vacant retail space at this end of the 16th St. Mall. Why add more empty storefronts?
^
Oh. Stike that complaint, then. 🙂
I was about to write what Ken just wrote. But in addition, we call blank walls like that that's underneath the stairs, "graffiti walls". Especially in its presence along Colfax. Good luck to the city on keeping that one clean!
wait, are we saying the existing state office building is a prison?! 😉