The details about Solera, the infill project currently under construction at 20th and Lawrence on Block 079, are now available. Solera is the latest project by Zocolo Development, the firm that brought the Zocolo Condos and RiverClay to the Jefferson Park district.
Solera is a 120-unit, 11-story residential rental development that will be LEED Gold certified. Solera also includes two ground-floor retail spaces. Here’s a high-resolution rendering of the project, courtesy of Zocalo Development and the project architect, John Gagnon of JG Architects:
The project is planned to be completed by June 2010. For more information on Solera, here’s a link to a PDF fact sheet on the project. Solera’s website is SoleraLiving.com.
Very nice! I love how it just stands out from the rest of those sterile buildings. This is exactly what downtown needs. Could have been just several floors taller though…but overall, the scale is very fitting.
Hey, um, what happened to the bike lane on Lawrence Street (on the right in this rendering)? Currently there are three traffic lanes, 2 parking lanes, and a nice wide bike lane, so the rendering implies a major narrowing. And am I crazy or the sidewalk fronting Lawrence only three or four feet wide?
Still, this is a major improvement to an otherwise drab block.
Although we've seen this general "look" before, this design does a nice job of holding the corner, unlike that 1970s VOA tower behind it. And of course, the more residential we have downtown, the better.
I love how not flat this building is. Also, two ground levels look great. This building really stands up to where we've been saying urban arcitecture should go.
Meanwhile, I think it's about time that something of this contemporary style finds its way into Downtown. The CPV and other outer-Downtown neighborhoods have been filling up with these kinds of buildings that show great architecture – maybe not cutting-edge, but at least balanced and successfull when viewed in masse – and now we have it infiltrating in to the urban core.
Like it, but as other have said just wish it was a bit taller. Lets hope they actually put those big lush trees in from the rendering!
Bravo! 10~ stories-nice…I love the balconies!
I really want to see 2020 Lawrence rise now too.
Great looking project, and it's LEED Gold. Nice.
Don't get me wrong, it looks decent and is better than nothing (and we need more residential downtown), but why does it have to have the same generic look as every other residential building constructed downtown in the last decade? It disappoints me that there are so many great infill opportunities here in Denver and despite that we have yet to see any real inspired architecture. Some nice architecture, and none of it's ugly (thank God), but neither is it inspired or progressive.
1. It's *good* to have a generic vernacular style. For landmark buildings to be special, there has to be a blanket of normal buildings surrounding them. A simple midrise residential building is exactly the sort that *should* blend in with the predominant style of the area. Save the "inspired" work for something that's actually special, via height, siting or use.
2. Urbanistically, this is exactly the sort of project that part of downtown needs. Good news.
3. Architecturally, I like the base and the corner, and I like that they have tried to break up the mass of the shaft with some verticality in the facade, but those facade materials are just terrible. That sort of aluminum (I assume that's what it is) works pretty well on small buildings, but just looks cheap on large ones. Also, it would look better and weather better with a cornice (even a simple one).
The Artistic Mercenary…
What about the Bell Tower? I know it isn't even built yet, but don't you consider that inspired or progressive?
And remember, Downtown land has to become scarce in order to drive up value. Right now, there is plenty of land available. Too much, in fact, to lure the most creative architects to design anything other than museums. Our downtown may be cute in a few places, but what does it offer that other major cities don't? Not even Los Angeles can do it yet.
Once our downtown is valuable enough, we will start to see a lot more creative effort be put into it. I mean seriously, if you honestly think that we can compete with Chicago or New York right now, you are nuts.
While I wonb't miss the parking lot, I could do without the cheap looking siding and windows on the monolithic 20th Avenue facade. It looks like the architect is using trendy paint colors to hide cheap materials. I hope the final product doesn't come out looking low-quality!
This building is guaranteed to appear cheap when finished and won't translate well from the drawing board.
Too many disparate materials, sorry. Too much gobbly-gook.
I would like it if the website were more specific on what the 'sustainable smart design' and 'eco-urban living' was… the page is dripping with green buzz word, I want to know more!
Mymilehi…
I never said compete with New York or Chicago. I'm not interested in competing. I'm interested in this city being great, period.
As I said this isn't bad design, and I'm not knocking the designers. It's good enough design, it's just derivative. And to beyonddc's point, I'm not saying this little apartment building needs to be a landmark. There's a big difference between being original and being a landmark. You can write a very original novel, doesn't mean you're going to win the Pulitzer or the Booker.
My point is: must it look exactly like every other residential building being built? Can't it be different in some way? The three different, generic looks to the facade and those same three building materials are done over and over again in this city and it's become quite boring.
I'm not saying be another city, and I'm not saying every building should be a landmark. I just want to see a building go up that inspires me and takes a risk.
We have some very nice buildings in this city and that's good. Now I just want to see some where it's evident that the designers had fun with it. The Bell Tower is a very good example of originality, but also of designers trying to design a landmark. Which is great but not necessary. I just want creative. The two museums have done that. Some office buildings going up (or proposed to) are doing that. Why not residential?
Also, it is important to remember that to do an architectural masterpiece is extremely expensive and the rents downtown don't justify that. The developer is not going to build something that looks cool but loses money. I'm extremley excited about it beeing the first LEED for rent project in all of Denver.
Looks very Tropical ! Maybe thats why it was named Solera, takes some of the seriousness of downtownand it's cool !
I think all of the LoDo streets from market to Wynkoop and 13th to 19th should have brick pavers. Also Larimer Square and Blake Street from 20th to 22nd. It would enhance the historic character of the neighborhood and . This week I have been in Wichita, Oklahoma City, and Little Rock and the "entertainment" districts of old warehouses in all of these cities are paved with brick. They are all very nice and the brick paved street definitely set the areas off and add to their ambience. Do brick pavers pose a maintenance problem for snow removal?
Corey
The one thing I am most happy about is that this is a 100% rental property. Too many downtown buildings are exclusively condo, which makes it only affordable for the wealthy.
I think its smart for the Solera developers to make this a rental property. Sure it will take longer for them to make back their investment, but condominium properties just don't seem to be selling well in this economy.
Successful neighborhoods have a mix of demographics and incomes and I am glad that people with lower incomes will be able to live in such a great property and location as Solera. Hopefully the rents will not be too excessive (more than $800-$1000 for a one bedroom or more than $1200-$1400 for a two bedroom) and we could have a great property in downtown for a wider variety of people
Ken,
Thank you for this nice rendering, I have been wondering what it was going to look like for awhile now and I am happy with this building. Might you be able to find a rendering or news about the new building at 13th & Downing? it has been an empty paved lot most of my life. Seeing dirt move on Capitol Hill is inspiring and makes me feel even better about our progress as a great city. I hope we never "compete" with the likes of Chicago or New York, but to have our city looking it's best and projects that use land at it's highest and best use, makes me proud to be a native! Keep up the good work and thanks for staying on top things. Kudos to you Kudos for Denver.
I think this building looks pretty slick. I particularly like that it uses materials and colors that are not common in Denver. The balconies are a nice touch and make the building feel welcoming. And way to go in providing ground floor retail!
So, Am I the only one who thinks this will look terribly outdated in 20 years?
Looks like the developments I've seen in Seattle and Portland. I like it.
On the topic of renting vs. for sale residntial – the way it actually works is like this: design the building /units so that at some point in the near future, the project can go to for sale condos. I guarantee this will happen – it's too expensive of an endeavor to "wait" some unknown time frame to recoup your costs, and see the return that's demanded from the lenders/investors. Plus Mr. Zucker is one savy guy, and he will see a profit…
the colors is a bit garish for my taste, which I'm sure we will grow tired of relatively quickly.
It vaguely reminds me of the Uptown Village Apartments on 17th and Grant.
On the positive side, I hope this building will improve that area which seems to be over run by homeless people and rescue missions.
Ken come back!
don't want to be a hater or anything…but I would love a new post…maybe some update photos of 1800 larimer.