A new 21-story office tower may be coming to the corner of 14th and Lawrence in Central Downtown Denver.
In January 2006, Canadian developer Great Gulf Group announced plans for a 55-story condominium tower at the corner of 14th and Lawrence. By November 2007, the project had been scaled back slightly to 51 stories, named as 1401 Lawrence, and a sales center had been built on the project site. By May 2008, with severe storm clouds looming on the economic horizon, Great Gulf Group pulled the plug on the development. Great Gulf held on to the property though, waiting for the return of sunnier economic conditions. That time has finally arrived, but now it’s Great Gulf’s office-developing sister company, First Gulf Corporation, that is managing the project and planning a 290,000 square-foot office tower at the site.
DenverInfill has been tracking this project since August, when a development application was filed with the city. This week, the project went public, with the Denver Business Journal publishing an article about the newly conceived 1401 Lawrence tower. Here is the project site identified in yellow on this GoogleEarth aerial (for all images, click/zoom to view at maximum resolution):
Courtesy of the Denver office of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, which is marketing and leasing the project, here are two renderings. The first image is a street-level view from the opposite corner at 14th and Lawrence.
Here’s the tower as viewed from above the area near Larimer Street and Cherry Creek, looking east:
1401 Lawrence will feature lobby functions plus 7,500 square feet of retail on the ground floor, 347 parking spaces on six parking levels (floors 2 through 7) and office space on floors 8 through 21, with an outdoor terrace on the 8th floor.
According to the DBJ article, First Gulf hopes to break ground in the first quarter of 2014.
I would to see a rendering of the west skyline.
I wonder if this means 1100 15th will not be coming back, at least in the form of 30+ story Class AA office space. That was a beautiful tower proposal a few years ago on the half block between Arapahoe and Lawrence on 15th. Hines was the developer and Pickard Chilton the architect.
Looks like Hines is focusing right now on 1601 Wewatta. But if that leases quickly and First Gulf leases up 1401 Lawrence quickly too, Hines could certainly make a big push for 1100 15th.
Looks good! however, I am just a ‘little’ concerned about the massing. It looks like quite a wide building. Will this risk shutting out some sunlight on Larimer Square in the midday hours?
1401 Lawrence the condo tower was nice because although it was tall, it was uber-skinny so the profile wasn’t as overbearing.
I love the glassy facade, however. I’d just like to see them go thinner, and consequently, higher! Win-win for aesthetics overall (though probably not for cost).
LS faces southwest…that’s awfully sunny. Shade happens (and its welcome in sunny Denver).
Nice looking project; would have liked to see this one a bit taller because I think it could have dramatically influenced the city’s skyline with even just a few more floors.
For that matter, given the prior proposal, how great would it have been to add 15 floors onto this and make it mixed use? Oh well, still a great addition to downtown.
First Gulf is a residential developer in the Toronto area which makes sense as they originally planned a condo tower. From what I read that market is getting wobbly as buyers who made pre-construction commitments on new condos are now being told by lenders they need 35-50% down in order to close.
While First Gulf does develop office buildings, all are in the Toronto metro area. Just a guess that they were acting on behalf of specific investors, perhaps Asian, when they acquired 1401 Lawrence. They have listed this development on their “available” page: http://www.firstgulf.com/search-results.php?step_two=2
It’s an interesting site for a new office building but this should do well I’d guess. I do like the building for that site.
I like the project but it doesn’t attempt to fit into the neighborhood at all. If they wanted a glass tower maybe the lower section could of at least had brick.
Adam,
The 4 Seasons is across the street. That is a contemporary structure with no brick. This is not in lodo and 14th starting on that parcel is a nice mix of taller buildings all the way to colfax.
I usually feel that taller is better for skyscrapers, but in this case, the height is right so that the building steps up from Larimer Square and LoDo. The original condo tower was too tall, imo. Nice design as well.
Nice look but are there any true towers (50 stories plus) on the horizon?
Kind of wish this building could have gone on the corner of 15th and Lawrence instead… kitty corner from the Four Seasons, but alas – Gulf didn’t own that property. It’ll definitely add more density to that area of town and probably give the area restaurants an extra 100 people to feed during the lunch hour. I’m sure they all appreciate it.
Too bad the taller tower proposal fell through. In my mind the more residential the better. But glad to see a lot become something either way! Anyone know what ever happened with Tabor II? I too would like to hear about any taller towers on the horizon
I’ve been wondering about Tabor II for a while now, too.
Very attractive! Will liven up a very quiet corner.
The Four Seasons residents are already going to go nuclear over merely being subject to construction in their general vicinity. I couldn’t imagine what might occur if you started obstructing their view. Glad I don’t have to deal with that anymore.
For the same reason (and many other financial ones), I can’t see Tower #2 starting at the Four Seasons property anytime soon. I’m afraid the owners will have to sell the building before that ever happens.
What? No tower2 for 4S? If there was a second tower, I’d buy a condo there!
Yeah, they poured a foundation for a second tower while building the first. It’s the open cement spot, right at the corner of 14th and Lawrence. The original plan was to do a second tower of condominiums when the first sold out. Well, the first tower sold out last year, but it was only because they cut all the prices in half. The ownership group didn’t make nearly as much money off the real estate as they wanted to, and I can’t see the second tower being developed unless the property is sold to someone else.
Just a feeling.
This is truly the sort of development downtown Denver really needs.
How amazing would it be for this area to have this building plus the second 4S residental tower (30 stories) across the street, the 40 story 1150 15th Hine office tower at 15th & Lawrence and a residential tower on the parking lot at 14th & Larimer?
Any information on the Architect?