Last fall I mentioned that the Saddlery Building at 15th and Wynkoop was finally getting its long-overdue makeover, and how amazing the exterior is looking after a good scrubbing. Today I’m happy to provide additional details about the historic structure’s rehabilitation, thanks to Kevin and Nancy from Studio K2 Architecture.
Work continues on the brick facade restoration, with only the 15th Street side remaining to be cleaned. Also of note has been the work on the windows. Many of the windows, particularly the large ones at street level, had been bricked in years ago. Now, the brick has been removed and, while the new windows are not yet in place, it is exciting to see the building’s steady transformation.
The completed project will include retail/restaurant space on the ground floor, office space on Floors 2 through 5, and the addition of two copper-clad residential penthouses at the top. The images below are courtesy of Studio K2 Architecture:
Here’s a perspective of the entire building as viewed from the roof of the Steelbridge Lofts across the intersection:
and the Wynkoop side from ground level:
and the project site plan:
You’ll notice in both images that a new wide sidewalk will be installed in front of the building along Wynkoop Street. Since the building’s construction in 1900, there’s never been a sidewalk along the Wynkoop side of the building given the loading dock’s location there. Speaking of the loading dock, the existing dock will be removed and a new, wider dock will be added that will not only allow for ADA access to the building, but will provide sufficient room for other uses, such as a restaurant patio. While the diagonal parking and narrow sidewalk located in front of the surface parking lot to the north along Wynkoop will continue to inhibit pedestrian movement, the new wide sidewalk in front of the Saddlery will be a huge improvement to the Lower Downtown streetscape.
The Saddlery Building project will be complete later this year.
Is there a way to find out how much the penthouses are going to go for?
I don’t know who’s marketing the project so I would contact the architect Kevin (I linked to his website) and I’m sure he can refer you to the right person.
Wow – it’s when I looked at this before picture from your site’s LoDo page that I fully took in what an incredible improvement this is.
It went from a defunct, industrial-looking streetscape where the bumpers of parked cars were literally six inches from the wall of the building, and an ugly utility box and swamp cooler stuck out on the ground floor.
The fact that there were no sidewalks makes me wonder if sidewalks in parts of downtown are different from most places in that they are not public property maintained by the city. How many other buildings in the area own and manage their own sidewalk space?
This is awesome…! It should coincide with the redevelopment of Union Station and make this corner of the city become even more pedestrian friendly. It’s a beautiful looking building and by adding basic streetscaping, it’ll be an excellent “addition” to that area of town. Just out of curiosity, if you were to utilize this building, whether it’s via retail, work, or for living in the top end condo’s – where are people expected to park?
While I acknowledge that this will be better for pedestrians, I mourn the loss what must be the last old industrial building in lower downtown. It’s like when we lost the funky office supply store from Larimer, or the Rocky Mountain Seed Company. Part of what makes a city great is variety, and Lodo is now a homogenous group of ad agency offices, bars, and restaurants. I’ve got nothing against any of that, but a little grit is nice too.
Scott–I understand where you’re coming from, but then again at least since I moved to Denver this building’s been sitting there vacant. I’d rather see it cleaned, restored and put to a new use rather than sitting there vacant and deteriorating (or God forbid being knocked down to build another parking lot)
I used to have an office view of the loading dock where it ended with only a ladder down. It was always so funny to see what peoples reactions were when they realized they didn’t have steps to walk down. I’m glad there will finally be a sidewalk, but I will miss those moments.
I’d say “grit” is nice too, which is why it is cool that the entire district is kept historic, and so many buildings are in their original form with the original painted signage restored and even many of the industrial features left on the building.
In my last comment I said the building was industrial-looking before the remodel, but I am pretty sure there are no buildings left in LoDo that are still being used as factories and warehouses.
It is amazing that now there are only two historic buildings left downtown in need of restoration/renovation. The Colorado Building and the Trunk and Luggage Building (I do not know the exact name). There are a few other old buildings around (like the old Duffy’s restaurant) but they are not on the city’s historic building register and are likely to be demolished for new developments eventually. I wonder how many other cities have all of their remaining important downtown historic buildings renovated.
I think a campaign is in order to get the Dikeau’s to renovate the Colorado Building, or sell it to someone who will. For those who did not know, the Dikeau’s art collection is on display in this building and is free to visit.
I’m a little sad they’re taking out the Wyncoop ladder and replacing it with a staircase.
Wow, having walked the interiors of this Denver Historic building which was the only saddlery maker for John Wayne I might add, I will miss the quirky industiral triumphs the City of Denver’s pioneers made inside this building while we transitioned from a Saddle town of the old west to the urban district it is today.
It would have been nice to hang on to some of Denver’s Cowtown history since we are the City best known for it. I being of a family with over 220 years of roots here was always proud of Denver. We were unique.
Like the begone Rockmont Building, Colorado Saddlery is also now gone. Sigh….turn the page