See that full block of surface parking in the above photo? Soon this entire block will contain an incredible mixed-use development that will better connect Downtown Denver to Coors Field. If you need a little refresher on what this project is, we have all of the gorgeous renderings in our announcement post.
Today’s update is going to focus on the details of this project. Back in November, we knew it was going to be a mixed-use project but didn’t know how it was broken down. The pair of buildings, one 11 stories, and the other 13, will include 114 condos, 144,693 square feet of hotel space, 87,091 square feet of retail, 210,900 square feet of office space, and a 34,015 square foot area dedicated to a Rockies hall of fame, and event space. Between the two buildings, the project will feature a great, screen-lined, outdoor plaza which will be a great gathering space before, during, and after the game.
As much as we wish we could say construction has officially begun, there are still a few steps to take before excavators show up. Stantec, the architecture firm designing this project, submitted a site plan to the city last month. Construction is still expected to start this year. For now, we can imagine that this…
…will turn into this!
We will keep you updated as this project moves forward with the city. What an exciting development for Downtown Denver!
One could have expected a firm such as Stantec to understand basic principles of structure (skinny bridge w virtually no structure!) transparency, and code (the stair). They don’t. The design itself is sophmoric, and the graphic renderings are pedestrian. I’m all in favor of density, but not this way. To think that a developer expects THIS many people to populate your site is mental and laughable. Where are the homeless? Where are the electric scooters parked on the sidewalk? Segways? Circles of children playing under a parachute in the middle of a desert of pavers? Such a well lit project – in the daytime!? Where are the planters? I could go on. For a pedestrian oriented project, it succeeds but in a different sense of the word most definitely.
I agree with your sentiment, but not sure it’s fair or rational to extract those kinds of assessments out from a rendering or two (which are absolutely just used for marketing). I figure the developer is banking on the fact that it’s stadium adjacent and will able to capitalize on game day, but not sure how realistic it is to assume its commercial viability the rest of the time—200,000sf of office space or otherwise. It’s basically a Pavillions 2.0 but with no theater or tourist draw. They’ll have to dump a ton of marketing dollars into getting people excited to make their way over here for expensive juice and a sports bar.
Some people just like to complain. *sigh*
Are you seriously suggesting that developers should put the homeless in their renderings? That’s ridiculous.
As for the number of people depicted, I would suggest that they have failed miserably if there aren’t this many people in the shops and restaurants or just milling around before Rockies games that attract tens of thousands.
Maybe the internationally respected, illustrious engineering and architecture firm known as “jason” can send an unsolicited proposal to the Colorado Rockies organization. Clearly, by omitting homeless people from the renderings, Stantec is not capable of executing this project.
Luckily, there recently developed a virtual cornucopia of untapped architectural design and urban planning talent in the comments section of this very blog. (I love this site, to be clear). Maybe the developers should reach out to this unequalled talent pool to build Denver “correctly.”
Case and point: In recent days, I’ve learned that every new project is a failure unless it has mechanically stacked car parking and homeless people in the renderings. Renderings also need rigorous structural engineering analysis and review to make sure bridges are “thick” enough. Also, buildings actually built for homeless people have uninspired architecture look and apparently need to smell better.
Denver is basically approaching ruin. We need this untapped talent to run finite element analyses to evaluate “smell” and “bridge thickness.” You heard it here first, folks.
Amen. I’ve been thinking the same. Most commenters here will never be pleased. If one has such high expectations, one must constantly be let down, a sad way to be. I think this project is as unique as it is appealing. Look forward to it activating this extension of Union Station, Lodo, and Ballpark
Spot on Matthew, couldn’t agree more.
Every so often a proposal comes along that is so exceptional I think, ‘there’s NO WAY some armchair architect is going to come along and bash THIS one.’ But then…
So true. It’s not difficult to come up with a list of drawbacks for any given project, but I fear that if we lead with these in our reaction (without acknowledging notable strides in the right direction), then we risk creating an environment where the developers have no hope of winning the approval of the public.
Ironically, it seems that an eagerness to nitpick also undermines the value of feedback itself – and unfortunately, devaluing the weight of public reception in the decision-making equation is more likely to result in more towering parking garages and lime-green stucco rectangles.
Thank you!!! I fear that developers are not going to want to do business in Denver if they follow this site and see commenters continue to deride every single project. And the constant cloud of criticism and negativity puts a damper on the Denverinfill reading experience for the rest of us. Sure, every project has its drawbacks, but just because you don’t like the color of a project or that it blocks your view of the mountains doesn’t mean Denver is going towards slums and ruin. I’m getting tired of the doomsday predictions every time my eye wanders down to the comment section. The comments on 2401 Blake Update #2 are particularly mind-boggling. But everyone has the right to their opinion and an open discussion I guess. I just wish it could be a little more constructive and lead to some real improvements to our infill.
Yeah and fireworks too! Hard to imagine that maybe this rendering is projecting what it might look like during a Rockies home game.
wow — very cool, can’t wait to see this parking lot come to life! Love the open courtyard.
Whoa … eat a Snickers man. Lucky for you these are likely not the exact drawings being reviewed by the City/County of Denver and the finished product will be somewhat different. Some (clearly not all) of your many concerns will likely be addressed through the site review process and the design modified accordingly like with any development project. Most of us realize these renderings are for marketing and somewhat preliminary at this point. In the end I feel this is a great project and I hope something very similar to what we’re seeing breaks ground in the very near future. Will be good for the Rockies fans and a nice addition to the neighborhood.
What an amazing project! I love it! I think the other thing that will help drive traffic to this development (as noted in some of the stories) is to use this interior space for special events. In the summer time, you could have a major event there every weekend the Rockies aren’t playing – it’s a great space for art, music, food festivals. I believe one of the stories even suggested a winter time ice rink. Brilliant!
As far as drawing traffic, if you have been around downtown and Union Station lately (especially with new Dairy Block), you’d see that the people are showing up!
I think this project will create critical mass for this part of LoDo. Already with Union Station and Dairy Block, this area has started to rival the mall for pure volume of people. I think this pushes it to a whole new level.
Kudos to the architects! Kudos to the Rockies to coming up with a bold design. This has the potential to be a real home run! * * * * *
Expect greatness then achieve it. Great start Rockies and Stantec!
Judging from the picture, all those people are there to see the fireworks.