The Galvanize 2.0 project in Downtown Denver’s Lower Highland district is moving forward! Today, we have an update and some new renderings. Visit our first post for an introduction to the project.
Galvanize 2.0 is a new 4-story mixed-use office/retail project with 76,000-square feet of rentable space near 17th and Platte Street on the eastern border of Denver’s Lower Highland district—right along the western edge of the South Platte River. Galvanize is a collaborative office community and entrepreneurial co-working environment for innovative/start-up companies.
The small building that previously occupied the property has been demolished, and the site is being readied for construction of the new building, starting December 2013. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2014. Some of the exposed steel and accent wood from the old building has been salvaged and will be featured in the new building.
Here are two new renderings of the Platte Street side of the building, courtesy of Nichols Partnership and Open Studio | Architecture (click to embiggen).
This project has many exciting components. The ground-floor side facing Platte Street includes a space for a restaurant to engage with the vibrant Platte Street frontage, and the Platte River side/garden level will serve as the new home for the Galvanize gSchool program. Galvanize will also occupy Floors 3 and 4, with the Platte River/Cherry Creek bike path system providing a strong link to their Golden Triangle facility at 11th and Delaware in the historic Rocky Mountain Bank Note Building. The remainder of the building will be available for lease to other new start-up companies, and also includes a fitness center and a bicycle facility.
The building will have two front doors, fronting both Platte Street and the Platte River, with terrace and patio spaces facing the river and providing great views of the Denver skyline, along with improvements to the trail along the west side of Platte. Galvanize 2.0 should be finished by late 2014.
That’s a cool modernist building. Love the blue color in it.
Looks beautiful. It’s really nice to see more retail/comm space coming into the are.
Really nice! I like that it engages the river as well. Let me be the first to say: “Now they need to redevelop the atrocious Empire Staples building next door!”. The owner must be holding out for big money. Once that prime site is redeveloped Platte Street will essentially be complete. They should re-use the aluminum letters in the cool 1950’s or 60’s font, though.
Excited to have such a dynamic work environment moving into the neighborhood! It is going to bring progressive thinkers and industry changers to such a great part of Denver. I have a provocative question for the Urbanists out there; would Platte st. where Galvanize is being build be considered part of Highlands (LoHi) or would it be considered Riverfront Park and why? Have had some friendly discussion about this around the office. 🙂
Platte St. is in the Highland neighborhood, which extends to the Platte River. I’ve always felt that that area feels more like an extension of Highland, mainly because a lot of the establishments preceed the whole Riverfront Park redevelopment. However, IMO, the REI building seems more Riverfront Park than Highland. Interesting indeed. BTW, cool looking building. I hope (and am reasonably confident) that the side facing the Platter River somewhat mirrors the side facing Platter St.
I would say that it is a part of Riverfront Park, but only because I believe that neighborhood borders shift over time. It was, very clearly, originally a part of the original Highland neighborhood back when the river and associated industry acted as the primary barrier. Today, I-25 is the primary barrier, and and Platte street’s unique distinction as part of the historic “Bottoms,” as well as its good connections to and across the river sets it apart from the modern Lower Highlands and really more a part of the CPV. Of course this is just a matter of opinion. On city maps, it is still officially part of Highland.
Good question, Anton. I’m glad you’re thinking and talking about it. My vote, of course, is that it’s in Highland (which is why we characterize it as such on DenverInfill) since the original town of Highland had the river as its border. Either way, Platte is one neat urban street!
Hopefully this leads to more riverfront development north of this site. A restaurant or two with a river-facing patio would be awesome.