Reinforced structure and mechanical systems were threaded through the building’s delicate skeleton to handle current code requirements. “Floors were lovingly and lightly leveled out,” Meade recalls. A combination of conventional, direct and indirect gas-fired air handling units provide heating and cooling. The ground floor, once the hotel saloon and lobby, was divided into four 1,000- to 1,350-squarefoot brightly lit, retail and office spaces with exposed masonry walls. The six hotel rooms on the upper floor were transformed into five 400- to 500-square-foot studio apartments.
Next door, a warren of enclosed offices was cleared out of the 6,000-square-foot 1-story structure to establish a fresh canvas for its new tenant Boulder creative ad agency Victors & Spoils. To create the raw, industrial space the agency desired, existing concrete floors were ground down and polished and the original concrete block walls, wood columns and new ductwork were all exposed.
At the back of the building, Arch11 opened up a solid block wall and added rolling garage doors and windows to enliven and animate the alley. The openings also provided enhanced natural light to interior spaces. A new passageway, carved out between buildings, allows tenants to access shared amenities, like ADA-compliant restrooms, storage and mechanical space.
In addition, the protected miner’s cottage was renovated and maintains its historic presence on the site, serving as a residential rental unit.
To culminate their place-making efforts, Reynolds and Arch11’s Meade conceived of hiring a graffiti artist to effectively brand a 120-foot-long barren exterior wall of the single-story structure. They selected Dalek, an acclaimed graffiti artist, who was commissioned to imprint the building with a singular identity. Fittingly, Dalek engaged the community in the implementation of the piece.
The activated street front and alley, along with a fully leased building, is a testament to Reynold’s vision “to celebrate Boulder’s entrepreneurial ethos and be empathetic to the community with a respectful nod to the past”. The successful renewal also clearly illustrates how his vision gracefully dovetailed with Arch11’s ability to creatively repurpose buildings.
Retrofit Team
Architect: Arch11, Boulder, Colo., and Denver
- E.J. Meade, principal, Hans Osheim, project manager
Developer: John Reynolds, Reynolds|Lee Development LLC, Boulder, Colo., (303) 209-3720
General contractor: Duggan Construction, Boulder
Structural engineer: PH Structure, Boulder
Custom metal work: Forest Reynolds, Standard Metal Works, Boulder
Landscape: Luke Sanzone, Marpa, Boulder
Materials
Stratified wood panel: Parklex
Paint: Benjamin Moore
Garage doors: Raynor
Windows: Andersen Windows & Doors
Project Awards
Preservation Honor Award from Historic Boulder
John Reynolds Property Owner of the Year from Downtown Boulder Inc.