The Lowe Enterprises Gates Rubber Factory Redevelopment - Denver, CO
Unlike later versions of the proposed redevelopment of the Gates Rubber Factory in Denver, the Lowe Enterprises concept was to restore, re-new and re-use as much of this giant neighborhood icon as possible; while still having leasable building depths and a vibrant neighborhood retail presence. The goal proved to be fairly doable because the complex had been added-to so often over the last 80 years. Robert Fitzgerald and his team were able to find the seams in the fabric of the huge buildings and return them (conceptually) to their original sizes and shapes. Brick facades, long hidden from daylite by later additions that continued through the 1960s, were to be re-exposed and restored. In so doing, the major and minor streets that once ran through the complex, part of the original South Denver street pattern, could also be restored and links to the western portion of the property, separated by the heavy railroad lines, could be re-established as bridge connections much as they were before World War II forced such dramatic additions to the brick infrastructure to be built.
An old master plan, proposed in the years following the First World War, was to be used to master plan the new Gates Complex mixed use neighborhood. Unfortunately, Lowe did not exercise its option for the purchase from the original Gates industrial family, and others later planned on complete demolition of the site. The once critical connection to the bungalow neighborhoods will be lost from the collective memories of the residents.
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Unlike later versions of the proposed redevelopment of the Gates Rubber Factory in Denver, the Lowe Enterprises concept was to restore, re-new and re-use as much of this giant neighborhood icon as possible; while still having leasable building depths and a vibrant neighborhood retail presence. The goal proved to be fairly doable because the complex had been added-to so often over the last 80 years. Robert Fitzgerald and his team were able to find the seams in the fabric of the huge buildings and return them (conceptually) to their original sizes and shapes. Brick facades, long hidden from daylite by later additions that continued through the 1960s, were to be re-exposed and restored. In so doing, the major and minor streets that once ran through the complex, part of the original South Denver street pattern, could also be restored and links to the western portion of the property, separated by the heavy railroad lines, could be re-established as bridge connections much as they were before World War II forced such dramatic additions to the brick infrastructure to be built.
An old master plan, proposed in the years following the First World War, was to be used to master plan the new Gates Complex mixed use neighborhood. Unfortunately, Lowe did not exercise its option for the purchase from the original Gates industrial family, and others later planned on complete demolition of the site. The once critical connection to the bungalow neighborhoods will be lost from the collective memories of the residents.
