It’s not an infill project, but it is an important renovation of an existing building in the core of Denver’s Central Business District. I’m talking about 1800 Glenarm, the unique three-sided 14-story office building on Block 193.
St. Charles Town Company recently purchased 1800 Glenarm and is in the process of a “green” renovation of the entire building into office condominiums. Here are a few images of the building after the conversion:
From the company’s 1800 Glenarm press release, here are additional details about the project:
“This building’s unique small floor plates (4,452 SF) allow business owners the opportunity to purchase most or all of an entire level, with direct elevator access. Expansive new windows at each corner allow views and natural light to flow from all directions. Space plans and finishes can be designed to meet each owner’s specific needs.
The building’s new elegant, contemporary lobby will make a statement with terrazzo flooring, Eucalyptus wall paneling and modern lighting. The lower level of the building has a number of common amenities including two handsome conference rooms with adjoining kitchen, a fitness area, showers, and a bicycle room.
1800 Glenarm is being redeveloped using green building practices. St. Charles Town Company will reuse the majority of the existing building structure. ‘Recycling’ this 60,000 square foot building structure will save the equivalent energy of 760,000 gallons of gasoline and 4,800 tons of construction waste. In order to vastly improve 1800 Glenarm’s energy efficiency, St. Charles Town Company will be performing an extensive overhaul on the building’s systems including new high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, Low-E windows, a new high-albedo (reflective) TPO roof membrane, and a wind turbine. Common areas will receive low-VOC paints to improve indoor air quality. Conference rooms will have Energy Star-rated appliances. Restrooms will have occupancy sensors to save energy, as well as highly-efficient water closets and fixtures to lower water use. Overall, the core & shell building is being engineered to exceed the IBC-2003 Energy Code requirements. St. Charles Town Company will also be providing buyers with the option of a sustainable tenant finish package that features materials such as concrete kitchen countertops, bamboo woodwork, and natural fiber flooring.
1800 Glenarm is conveniently located on Broadway, one block north of 17th Street – Denver’s Wall Street of the West. The iconic Brown Palace Hotel is just around the corner. Within a short walk are the 16th Street Mall, Colorado Convention Center and some of Downtown Denver’s best restaurants. The building has direct walking access to multiple modes of alternative transportation being within two blocks of the 20th & Welton light rail station, Civic Center Station, and the 16th Street Mall Shuttle. 1800 Glenarm will also have bicycle storage, showers, and changing facilities in the lower level of the building, making it convenient for owners and their employees to take advantage of this free transportation option.
St. Charles Town Company (www.stcharlestown.com) is an established Denver-based development firm led by its President, Charlie Woolley. The company is best known its work redeveloping the historic Equitable Building into a very successful office condominium project, as well as the Lowenstein Theater redevelopment – home of the Tattered Cover Book Store on East Colfax.”
In addition to Downtown Denver’s many new construction projects, it’s great to see all the renovation/conversion projects that are taking place in Downtown too, like 1800 Glenarm. They can be just as important as new construction, as a tired, underutilized building can often have the same detrimental effect on the vitality of its surrounding area as a surface parking lot. Whether renovation or new infill, the massive investments in Downtown Denver continues.
So what is the gold finned building in the first picture off to the left? The Trinity United Methodist Church lines up correctly in the rendering to the right, but I am unaware of the building to the left. Either they wanted to class up the rendering with some Chicago style building or they are dropping a hint about a possible new building. Probably the former. Choice C is I am oblivious and that building exists already in Denver.
What on earth is that building in the background of the first rendering? I don't recognize it, and can't think of what it could be in that area.
Lol. Everyone has already put what I was going to say. I wish it were a hint at a new building, but I have a feeling it's placed there to better soften the surroundings of this building. Let's all keep in mind ladies, many prospective tenants for this building don't know it sits in the midddle of an asphalt wasteland at a crossroads in our CBD. Let's keep it that way and add in pretty backgrounds to strengthen their hopes of the prime location that is so beautifully described in the builder's profile. 😉
I love it! It's not perfect, but at least it's going to be refreshing. That area of Broadway has sooo much potential! I hope to see Denvers next tallest built on one of the many parking lots there.
Hmmm…..did anyone else hear that? I thought I heard a voice that said "photoshop it and they will come."
Its great to hear that its "green" but the design is less than exciting… I wish someone would really step it up on these redesigns. Some more buildings like the proposed 999 17th Street or 1800 Larimer.. I dont know, just something with more foresight would be nice.
Can we see a "before" picture for comparison? I can't get a good view of the building on the Block 019 page, and though I spend a lot of time downtown (but maybe not in that area) I honestly can't think of which building this is.
I've got to mention that the looks really great, though.
pizzuti: Go to maps.live.com and use the bird's eye feature. You can get a lot of good views of this building.
Looks better than what it does now and better than the old Mondrian redesign idea. I like this funky little sculpture up at the spire, even though I usually hate that brand of art, the placement makes it interesting though.
Saint: I believe that 'sculpture' up top is the wind turbine they talk about in the description.
It makes the building attractive 'cause it's green…
Ha, I had read right over that.
My guess is the building in the backgroun is a wild guess at what is now One Lincoln Park.
This property was being marketed as a condo conversion not too long ago wasn't it?
Guess that didn't work out.
Yes, Ed, this property originally was planned to be a high-end condo conversion (about 12 units) called Mondrian. It didn't even get to the sales stage either. There was some controversy about the developer around the time the Mondrian was announced.
I believe the Mondrian was supposed to be part of the Lincoln Park masterplan of that neighborhood which will also include a few new buildings (in addition to One Lincoln Park tower) surrounding a central park space.
I hope the park is still on the boards.
This office building scheme is nicer than the Mondrian design, but I don't think they went far enough. The drab tan brick needs to be painted and the sculpture hanging off the corner of the building looks very odd too.
The background to the left seems to be photoshopped from another place. One Lincoln Park is on the other side of the street. Some real site context would be nice.