The Colorado Center - Denver, CO
The first phase of the development of the now nearly completed office, retail and theatre complex on Colorado Boulevard, the earlier Colorado Center structures were also the first completed high rise projects where in Robert Fitzgerald's influence over the work of Skidmore, Ownings and Merrill became clearly evident. Typically a dogmatically modernist firm, the Denver office, with Fitzgerald's ideas and sense of tradition, transformed SOM's mundane curtain wall strategy into a structure and a building group (Fitz was responsible for the master planning and entitlement of the now transit oriented development, as well) considered to be one of the most notable pre-cast concrete structures in America. Windows became human-scaled wall openings again. Facades became proportioned to the context with base, middle and termination at the sky. Color was introduced on the interior common spaces unlike most of what was considered the norm at the time. Scale, proportion, a true roof presence, patterning at various scales - all these tools were re-introduced to the SOM vocabulary at Colorado Center.
The VRG Building and the NCR Headquarters Building, linked by a precast upper level loggia, and residing next to a simple garage structure, were the first phase of what was to be a hotel anchored development. In the intervening years, members of Fitz's team have designed offshoots of the original to fill out the current site. The original phase stands proud at the curve on Interstate 25 - a testament to the timeless planning and traditional strength inherent in the design of Fitzgerald's commercial works of the period.
Photos
The first phase of the development of the now nearly completed office, retail and theatre complex on Colorado Boulevard, the earlier Colorado Center structures were also the first completed high rise projects where in Robert Fitzgerald's influence over the work of Skidmore, Ownings and Merrill became clearly evident. Typically a dogmatically modernist firm, the Denver office, with Fitzgerald's ideas and sense of tradition, transformed SOM's mundane curtain wall strategy into a structure and a building group (Fitz was responsible for the master planning and entitlement of the now transit oriented development, as well) considered to be one of the most notable pre-cast concrete structures in America. Windows became human-scaled wall openings again. Facades became proportioned to the context with base, middle and termination at the sky. Color was introduced on the interior common spaces unlike most of what was considered the norm at the time. Scale, proportion, a true roof presence, patterning at various scales - all these tools were re-introduced to the SOM vocabulary at Colorado Center.
The VRG Building and the NCR Headquarters Building, linked by a precast upper level loggia, and residing next to a simple garage structure, were the first phase of what was to be a hotel anchored development. In the intervening years, members of Fitz's team have designed offshoots of the original to fill out the current site. The original phase stands proud at the curve on Interstate 25 - a testament to the timeless planning and traditional strength inherent in the design of Fitzgerald's commercial works of the period.
