The project to renovate the 1960s-era office building at 930 15th Street continues making good progress. In mid-March we posted photos showing that the first sections of the existing building facade were being removed. The project entails the removal of the building’s dated exterior and a reskinning of the structure with a modern glass curtain wall, along with a complete remodel of the interior, all new building systems, and new ground-floor commercial uses. With the renovation also comes a rebranding of the building as The Link.
Project construction has reached a milestone: the building’s original facade is now entirely gone, revealing the superstructure. We don’t get to see an old building in this “naked” condition very often, so let’s take a look before the new glass skin starts going up.
Here’s a close-up of the Curtis Street side followed by the 15th Street side:
Our final photo shows the building’s position between two of Downtown Denver’s most notable historic buildings. Adjacent on Curtis (right) is the 1929 Mountain States Telephone Building, featuring a buff-colored terra cotta facade that mixes Art Deco and Gothic Revival styles in a variant known as Modern American Perpendicular Gothic. Across the alley on 15th Street (left) is the 1910 Denver Gas and Electric Building, with a white terra cotta facade that incorporates 13,000 electric lights in a Chicago Commercial (Sullivanesque) style. Both of The Link’s historic neighbors are part of the Downtown Denver Historic District.
The Link’s contemporary blue glass facade, designed by Gensler, will create a striking contrast to the neutral-tone facades of its historic neighbors, allowing both of those landmark buildings to be more visually prominent than before. The new ground-floor uses and streetscape will also enliven the corner for pedestrians.
We will revisit the project soon when the new glass facade installation gets underway.
Now you can clearly see the original 5 story building with the additional floors placed on top. This occurred sometime in the late 60s or early 70s (I think!).
Interesting they are not replacing the skin facing the beautiful Denver Gas and Electric Building to allow for more windows. Perhaps this is a current code requirement?
I bet they had to do a ton of asbestos removal on this one!
Looking forward to the completed “new” building.
Shield your eyes kiddies, that building is naked!