1515 Wynkoop is both a companion and counterpoint to SugarCube. Both projects have a scale and form that not only relate to their neighbors, but elevate their entire neighborhood by so successfully providing what had been missing for decades; yet they do so with completely opposite architectural styles.
For SugarCube, it’s all about that 16th Street facade. With the completion in 2001 of the highly regarded 16 Market Square project on Block 042, the corner of 16th and Blake on Block 019—a surface parking lot since at least the early 1970s—left a gap that cried out to be filled. KPMB nailed it the way SugarCube joins 16 Market Square and the historic Sugar Building in completing one of Downtown Denver’s best street walls: the west side of 16th Street from Market Street down into the Central Platte Valley, all the while doing so with a retro-modern design that playfully defies its neighbors’ traditional looks.
Meanwhile, 1515 Wynkoop on Block 013 reconstructs one of LoDo’s best corners that had been marred since the 1950s by the old Postal Annex building, with its massive blank walls and pedestrian-defying loading docks. The other three buildings at the corner: the Steelbridge Lofts (originally, another Great Western “Sugar Building”), the Colorado Saddlery Building, and the Edbrooke Lofts (originally, Spratlen-Anderson Grocers), all contribute a no-nonsense, traditional early 1900s Denver warehouse/mercantile presence to the corner. Hartman Cox Architects came through with the perfect complement to the three corner neighbors in 1515 Wynkoop’s traditional design. 1515 Wynkoop’s look is stately and reserved (but not stuffy or boring) and features brick detailing that honors the trademark element of Lower Downtown’s historic structures. But while it may treat the corner seriously, 1515 Wynkoop still has a little bit of modern fun with its recessed glass curtain wall entry mid-block along 15th Street.
So far, 1515 Wynkoop is looking good and I’m eager for it to be complete; plus, won’t it be nice to be able to walk to 15th along Wynkoop on a sidewalk?
I really like this building, especially the windows. The windows on 1400 Wewatta and 1900 16th have a very institutional/1970s look about them that I hate, this building avoided that. Windows aside though, this part of town is really starting to look great, too bad the economy has tanked.
Also, what's the status of the Saddlery building? Is it tied up in litigation? Can't imagine any other reason why such a prime peice of real estate would sit empty for so long.
i am generally not a fan of "fake old" (because it is done so poorly most of the time), but wow – this looks fantastic. the various sections (via color, ornamentation and windows) of the building actually make it look like there were seperate buildings constructed with no side setbacks.
your pictures don't show it, but the jewel of this project for me is on the wynkoop side – the tan portion of the building has deep 'punched' windows that really set it apart.
bravo hines – thank you! (now get to work on that 15th street tower…)
wow – this is such an improvement over the old postal building. I see old pictures of that annex and it gives me shivers.
I'm also curious about the next door neighbor: The Saddlery Building. As of 2006 – the LoDo board voted to give Jim Donahue the go ahead for redevelopment, but what has transpired since?
This is a jewel of a corner..
Here is the latest "LoDo Design Review Board" meeting miniutes in regard to the Saddlery building – from Sept 4th:
http://www.denvergov.org/Portals/129/documents/090408%20LDDRB%20min.pdf
Apparently everything is still a go for redevelopment.
Just remember folks,
The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building were both built during the worst years of the Great Depression. Right now, the Four Seasons and Two Tabor are our ESB and CB. If the Big Apple can do it, so can we! Because Denver is weird like that….I guess.
If Two Tabor never happens, then the gov can put people to work by hiring an army of workers to build the public monumental tower that I've been dreaming about;)
Anywho,
Here is the best plan that I've come across (so far) on what to do with the 16th street mall:
http://www.westword.com/comics/strip/worstcase
Does anybody know how much of the Wewatta facade will be covered up by the Union Station "triangle building"? It appears that the entire Wewatta side of EPA up to the alley will be hidden (the alley goes between EPA and 1515 then wraps around EPA presumably to serve as the triangle building's alley as well).
The aerial photo of the triangle building's lot makes it look like it would cover up part of 1515, but so much detail was given to the Wewatta facade that I wonder if it will be obscured at all.
Interesting. I didn't know about this project. I'd like to see more.
Looking at this picture and this picture, the red brick portion on the left is quite good. Some arches on the 6th floor setback above the cornice would have made it *excellent*, but whatever. It's good. Along with 16 Market probably Denver's best example of contemporary traditional architecture.
The middle grey/tan (can't tell) building that's just three windows wide could use more detailing, but the fact that it's so narrow makes it a fabulous addition to the streetscape no matter what. More unique facades per block is always better.
The more bland red brick section on the right needs more decoration, but is quite well-proportioned.
Overall I'm a fan.
BTW, on the subject of well-done contemporary traditional architecture in Denver, this is not bad.
Question for Anon 9:46:
Shouldn't your aversion be directed at bad architects/developers then, rather than the whole style?
It's not *that* hard do good-looking contemporary stuff like this. There just aren't many in Colorado who know how, so good examples are more rare here.
Question for everybody:
Is there anybody out there who thinks a glass curtain wall would have been better?
Just curious.
To anon 3:19-
Luckily, it appears that the curb of Wewatta doesn't begin it's bend northwest until almost the end of the western part of the facade on 1515 Wynkoop. Thus, it will be the EPA building that gets most of its western facade covered, while Wynkoop should be minimally affected.
Ken / Admin…
I just thought of something kind of unrelated to this post that would be a great feature/ asset to the site and us Infill fans.
Flickr account with all of the images of progress separated by year and or project. Also a Facebook group page. That way we could all submit photos there and receive updates on the fly. I think these would be awesome and could potentially help with organization and reference.
Ive lived in MPLS for a year now and still read this blog. Its fantastic and I haven't been able to find anything better.
Thanks for the time and consideration. It's greatly appreciated.
I think this building is available in a LEGO set…especially with the lack of significant architecture detail. Just a giant cube with identical facing all the way up, save a modification or two on the first floor.
File under: no longer a parking lot, lacks creativity and style
Hey i took an urbanest perspective when i wrote about the building that some of you might find interesting. check it out here