Very nice. If only there were a few more setbacks to accentuate it better. It's still a big improvement to the Denver skyline. Thanks BrieAnn, Kyle and Ken for posting it!
Anonymous
September 18, 2009 at 11:05 am
Wonderful!
Part of me wishes the builder were about three stories taller and had more of a taper at the top than it ended up with.
Overall – fantastic addition to downtown Denver.
-Holygrail
Anonymous
September 18, 2009 at 4:22 pm
Wow, What a great addition to the Denver sky line, I am pleasantly surprised! Thanks for the pictures, the last one really shows the city's diversity as far as architecture and some how it all works together.
hIstorymystery
September 18, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Although slender, the mast is visible all the way from I-25 and Thornton Parkway, if not further.
Anonymous
September 18, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Simply Beautiful!
Dori
September 19, 2009 at 11:49 am
This is simply the exclamation point to a great design! Students of architecture: please note the simplicity of materials used here. This permits the mass of the building to say all that needs to be said and results in one heck of a beautiful structure.
I am a proud Denverite who appreciates the self-control that was exercised by the design team and I'd like to thank them for a very classy building.
Thank you, thank you!
Anonymous
September 19, 2009 at 2:22 pm
This is such a disappointment! They were sick of shoeboxes, so they built a shoebox and stuck a big pole into it. Hardly an improvement. There is barely any tapering, and it looks horrible. This building DETRACTS more than it adds to the skyline, and the original design, which looked more like the Empire State Building, didn't have a severe lack of tapering like this design, and it was taller! What an eyesore…
Anonymous
September 20, 2009 at 2:35 am
WOW… lets put a spire on the top of Brooks Towers and the two will look the same… Im dissappointed Liked the original design much better I agree, another box but with a big point on top
Anonymous
September 20, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I really like this building. I like the slender proportions, height vs width, etc. plus the needle is very progressive for Denver. I think the building's form on the western edge of downtown really changes the whole downtown area as well.
SC48
September 20, 2009 at 4:31 pm
I'm disappointed, this really isn't much of a spire. I agree with all of the comments criticizing the tapering – it looks like an afterthought, it looks more like a glorified lightning rod than real architecture. Are they going to do anything more with the base, or is it just going to remain a grey box?
Off topic, but there's construction going on at the Colorado Saddlery building at 15th and Wynkoop, anyone know what that's about? Are they finally renovating that building?
Anonymous
September 20, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Look at the renderings, they still have a bit of work to do on the roof area, including adding another setback on top of the spire box. They base of the spire looks like it will be covered up by this setback.
Anonymous
September 20, 2009 at 10:34 pm
To start off I'm excited to see another skyscraper be added to bring new life to downtown!
However, I must agree with the disappointment with the crowning of the building. Denver should develop a charter like Seattle where the tops of any skyscraper must have a unique taper and not a just simple box shape.
What will define Denver? A city of boxes or something greater? How about a collection of terraces, domes, atriums, angles, curves, anything but just a boxtop!
I know that Denver has some great potential in this area where we can come up with. One lincoln park is a great example!
Anonymous
September 20, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Very disappointed with the height of the stale box and the spire looks like a flag pole. Denver skyline needs to get out of the 80's.
Anonymous
September 21, 2009 at 1:12 am
jeez people! they haven't finished the building yet! it will taper more. really it will! look at the renderings. it would be nice if you waited until construction has concluded before you start whining and criticizing. denver gets a unique attractive new high rise with a spire, which looks unlike anything that's ever been done here before, and you still get people who think it isn't good enough. wtf?? go to new york already!!!!
Crush_Buds
September 21, 2009 at 2:40 am
It detracts??? You are a fool. 🙂 It looks great. Go see it in person everyone!
Dennis
September 21, 2009 at 3:54 am
Yes, the original was gorgeous and trust that I lamented the scaled down version forever, but honesty? I don't think this turned out so bad. Does anyone know if the crown will be lit up at night?
Anonymous
September 21, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I thought you might find this interesting, if you haven't already seen it:
Agree– Waiting for Denver's Skyline to have a wow factor not just same old height with ugly boxes. A building can be 60 stories and still go "green" reaching for the skies over 1000 feet with large spires on top.
Anonymous
September 21, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Yes, Mandeezy, it does detract! At least for now…we'll see how much more it gets tapered. And as for the lightning rod comment, I totally agree. Denver does not need another box…if we keep getting these, we will start looking like a city made out of Legos.
Anonymous
September 21, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I don't think they are doing any more tapering. I think they have moved from the renderings just a bit. This building definitely is a great addition to downtown – but yes, disappointing that it seems impossible for us to break from the Denver Box. In all – great news! Welcome 4S.
Freddie
September 22, 2009 at 1:32 am
It looks like it's been built exactly like the renderings so far, so I doubt they would suddenly decide to do something different at the top and replace the nice glassy looking steps with a small gray nub. I think that gray nub is the top of the elevator shaft or something and there will be something nicer built around it, along with one more step on top of that. The spire will be much shorter looking once that is done.
But man, I'd be SO much happier if they had gone with the original design. I think they gave some crappy excuse about the original NYC-style design not fitting in with Denver, but I suspect it was a cost-reduction measure, because it would be obvious to anyone with any taste that the first design is far superior.
Anyway, yall should stop freaking out until the tapering is finished.
Anonymous
September 22, 2009 at 11:09 am
Uh…. Yes they ARE doing more tapering… If you actually LOOK at the rendering you can see that the final 2 tapers are built around the spire. That box on top is the foundation for the spire and the tapered portions build around it.
I just wish people could be patient!
Crush_Buds
September 22, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Will someone post me a link to a city without a majority of "box shaped" buildings? and then realize that half of you are over reacting and have your head too far up your own ass to appreciate a good looking building.
Anonymous
September 22, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Some may like it some may not, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Is it really nessessary to criticise people personally because they don't agree with you? or say things like WTF??? Or go move to New York? Lighten up….
Anonymous
September 22, 2009 at 10:14 pm
i think that's it. The renderings are from before the height was lowered from 50 stories to 45. They probably altered the spire during the redesign too.
hIstorymystery
September 22, 2009 at 10:52 pm
I am amazed by this discussion.
Anonymous
September 22, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Well Freddie, yes, I remember reading the article and they did site a reason of changing the design. They didn't want it to look like the Empire State Building in New York. And although it did have the same concept, it's not like they didn't have their big differences. Denver could afford to take a page from NYC.
And then look at the first two pic's where the crane is putting the spire in place. Almost identical views. It's clear there is more tapering to do. There's the little fin thingies that they still have to put on the NE and SW sides and then there's still another step. The spire will be much shorter (and much less obnoxious looking) once that last step is added.
This is going to be a good looking building. It's not necessarily a great piece of architecture by any means, but it'll still be a fairly good looking building – better than the vast majority of downtown Denver's skyrises. I'm stoked.
Anonymous
September 25, 2009 at 10:37 am
Great Addition to Denver's boring Skyline– I want to see a building overtake that White Box for the tallest building. Height people it's not a bad thing!
Anonymous
September 27, 2009 at 2:23 am
Anon, 8:37, I absolutely agree. It's gonna be a time for celebration when that glass ceiling that is the height of Republic Plaza is finally shattered!
Mymilehi
September 30, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Isn't Evan Makovsky going to unveil his plans for the Sage block this month(october)?
Anonymous
October 3, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Just got back home from Seattle on business and drove through Denver to see low and behold a very dark downtown at night. Does anybody know why we don't put lights on our building and light them up like the Space Needle? Will Four Seasons put some nice lights that can out shine our Qwest? Please!
Anonymous
October 5, 2009 at 10:54 am
I always go through withdrawals when there is a lull in postings on this site…
Anonymous
October 6, 2009 at 3:58 pm
it depends on where youre driving from..if you're on 70 heading east/west, the skyline lighting is pretty nill. But heading north on I-25, you get a real nice view of some of the night lighting
I think the time was ripe, and Denver could have had it.
Anonymous
October 10, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Why would we want it? I think we spoke in the 70's when we said thanks but no thanks to the olympics. We can barely handle the traffic, conjestion etc now. We barely have money for improvements now. If we had the olympics here all of us natives would need to leave for the duration as our home was taken over by tourists; no thanks!
Anonymous
October 12, 2009 at 12:14 pm
ummm I'm pretty sure I would stick around for the olympics…maybe it's just you who will flee.
Anonymous
October 12, 2009 at 1:39 pm
…just as a "I told you so" to all those who said that they would for sure do more tapering on the 4S… Crane is coming down, and it does NOT in fact look like the renderings.
-Holygrail
p.s. A wonderful building regardless.
Anonymous
October 14, 2009 at 10:48 am
Somebody needs to update the picture of Denver's skyline on wikipedia.org.
Anonymous
October 20, 2009 at 1:06 pm
All of the renderings and model include further tapering, and I'm not sure you need a crane to do it. So let's wait and see instead of ignorantly pontificating.
Very nice. If only there were a few more setbacks to accentuate it better. It's still a big improvement to the Denver skyline. Thanks BrieAnn, Kyle and Ken for posting it!
Wonderful!
Part of me wishes the builder were about three stories taller and had more of a taper at the top than it ended up with.
Overall – fantastic addition to downtown Denver.
-Holygrail
Wow, What a great addition to the Denver sky line, I am pleasantly surprised! Thanks for the pictures, the last one really shows the city's diversity as far as architecture and some how it all works together.
Although slender, the mast is visible all the way from I-25 and Thornton Parkway, if not further.
Simply Beautiful!
This is simply the exclamation point to a great design! Students of architecture: please note the simplicity of materials used here. This permits the mass of the building to say all that needs to be said and results in one heck of a beautiful structure.
I am a proud Denverite who appreciates the self-control that was exercised by the design team and I'd like to thank them for a very classy building.
Thank you, thank you!
This is such a disappointment! They were sick of shoeboxes, so they built a shoebox and stuck a big pole into it. Hardly an improvement. There is barely any tapering, and it looks horrible. This building DETRACTS more than it adds to the skyline, and the original design, which looked more like the Empire State Building, didn't have a severe lack of tapering like this design, and it was taller! What an eyesore…
WOW… lets put a spire on the top of Brooks Towers and the two will look the same… Im dissappointed Liked the original design much better I agree, another box but with a big point on top
I really like this building. I like the slender proportions, height vs width, etc. plus the needle is very progressive for Denver. I think the building's form on the western edge of downtown really changes the whole downtown area as well.
I'm disappointed, this really isn't much of a spire. I agree with all of the comments criticizing the tapering – it looks like an afterthought, it looks more like a glorified lightning rod than real architecture. Are they going to do anything more with the base, or is it just going to remain a grey box?
Off topic, but there's construction going on at the Colorado Saddlery building at 15th and Wynkoop, anyone know what that's about? Are they finally renovating that building?
Look at the renderings, they still have a bit of work to do on the roof area, including adding another setback on top of the spire box. They base of the spire looks like it will be covered up by this setback.
To start off I'm excited to see another skyscraper be added to bring new life to downtown!
However, I must agree with the disappointment with the crowning of the building. Denver should develop a charter like Seattle where the tops of any skyscraper must have a unique taper and not a just simple box shape.
What will define Denver? A city of boxes or something greater? How about a collection of terraces, domes, atriums, angles, curves, anything but just a boxtop!
I know that Denver has some great potential in this area where we can come up with. One lincoln park is a great example!
Very disappointed with the height of the stale box and the spire looks like a flag pole. Denver skyline needs to get out of the 80's.
jeez people! they haven't finished the building yet! it will taper more. really it will! look at the renderings. it would be nice if you waited until construction has concluded before you start whining and criticizing. denver gets a unique attractive new high rise with a spire, which looks unlike anything that's ever been done here before, and you still get people who think it isn't good enough. wtf?? go to new york already!!!!
It detracts??? You are a fool. 🙂 It looks great. Go see it in person everyone!
Yes, the original was gorgeous and trust that I lamented the scaled down version forever, but honesty? I don't think this turned out so bad. Does anyone know if the crown will be lit up at night?
I thought you might find this interesting, if you haven't already seen it:
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/09/21/focus1.html?b=1253505600^2125771&ana=e_vert
Agree– Waiting for Denver's Skyline to have a wow factor not just same old height with ugly boxes. A building can be 60 stories and still go "green" reaching for the skies over 1000 feet with large spires on top.
Yes, Mandeezy, it does detract! At least for now…we'll see how much more it gets tapered. And as for the lightning rod comment, I totally agree. Denver does not need another box…if we keep getting these, we will start looking like a city made out of Legos.
I don't think they are doing any more tapering. I think they have moved from the renderings just a bit. This building definitely is a great addition to downtown – but yes, disappointing that it seems impossible for us to break from the Denver Box. In all – great news! Welcome 4S.
It looks like it's been built exactly like the renderings so far, so I doubt they would suddenly decide to do something different at the top and replace the nice glassy looking steps with a small gray nub. I think that gray nub is the top of the elevator shaft or something and there will be something nicer built around it, along with one more step on top of that. The spire will be much shorter looking once that is done.
But man, I'd be SO much happier if they had gone with the original design. I think they gave some crappy excuse about the original NYC-style design not fitting in with Denver, but I suspect it was a cost-reduction measure, because it would be obvious to anyone with any taste that the first design is far superior.
Anyway, yall should stop freaking out until the tapering is finished.
Uh…. Yes they ARE doing more tapering… If you actually LOOK at the rendering you can see that the final 2 tapers are built around the spire. That box on top is the foundation for the spire and the tapered portions build around it.
I just wish people could be patient!
Will someone post me a link to a city without a majority of "box shaped" buildings? and then realize that half of you are over reacting and have your head too far up your own ass to appreciate a good looking building.
Some may like it some may not, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Is it really nessessary to criticise people personally because they don't agree with you? or say things like WTF??? Or go move to New York? Lighten up….
i think that's it. The renderings are from before the height was lowered from 50 stories to 45. They probably altered the spire during the redesign too.
I am amazed by this discussion.
Well Freddie, yes, I remember reading the article and they did site a reason of changing the design. They didn't want it to look like the Empire State Building in New York. And although it did have the same concept, it's not like they didn't have their big differences. Denver could afford to take a page from NYC.
Anon 8:14, look at this rendering of the 45 story updated design: https://denverinfill.com/wp-content/uploads/oldimages/blog/2007-04/2007-04-24_fourseasons2.jpg
And then look at the first two pic's where the crane is putting the spire in place. Almost identical views. It's clear there is more tapering to do. There's the little fin thingies that they still have to put on the NE and SW sides and then there's still another step. The spire will be much shorter (and much less obnoxious looking) once that last step is added.
This is going to be a good looking building. It's not necessarily a great piece of architecture by any means, but it'll still be a fairly good looking building – better than the vast majority of downtown Denver's skyrises. I'm stoked.
Great Addition to Denver's boring Skyline– I want to see a building overtake that White Box for the tallest building. Height people it's not a bad thing!
Anon, 8:37, I absolutely agree. It's gonna be a time for celebration when that glass ceiling that is the height of Republic Plaza is finally shattered!
Isn't Evan Makovsky going to unveil his plans for the Sage block this month(october)?
Just got back home from Seattle on business and drove through Denver to see low and behold a very dark downtown at night. Does anybody know why we don't put lights on our building and light them up like the Space Needle? Will Four Seasons put some nice lights that can out shine our Qwest? Please!
I always go through withdrawals when there is a lull in postings on this site…
it depends on where youre driving from..if you're on 70 heading east/west, the skyline lighting is pretty nill. But heading north on I-25, you get a real nice view of some of the night lighting
This is truly sad:
http://blogs.wsj.com/dispatch/2009/10/02/us-wont-put-forth-bid-for-2018-olympics/
I think the time was ripe, and Denver could have had it.
Why would we want it? I think we spoke in the 70's when we said thanks but no thanks to the olympics. We can barely handle the traffic, conjestion etc now. We barely have money for improvements now. If we had the olympics here all of us natives would need to leave for the duration as our home was taken over by tourists; no thanks!
ummm I'm pretty sure I would stick around for the olympics…maybe it's just you who will flee.
…just as a "I told you so" to all those who said that they would for sure do more tapering on the 4S… Crane is coming down, and it does NOT in fact look like the renderings.
-Holygrail
p.s. A wonderful building regardless.
Somebody needs to update the picture of Denver's skyline on wikipedia.org.
All of the renderings and model include further tapering, and I'm not sure you need a crane to do it. So let's wait and see instead of ignorantly pontificating.
~~Pleased to see construction in Denver~~