SEPTEMBER 2015 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \
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In the iCloud era, many renters have
compressed their books, movies, and mu-
sic onto a memory wafer in a smartphone.
Space to store reams of records, DVDs and
books is no longer a necessity, but plenty
of bandwidth and cutting-edge infrastruc-
ture most definitely is. “They don’t want
cable,” says Kovach. “They want streaming
video and powerful Wi-Fi.”
That plays into Denizen’s 14 different
floor plans. The units average about 500
square feet and the smaller units – studios
and one-bedrooms – have been the most
popular.
“Studios and one-bedrooms are about
80 percent of the units,” says John Binder
of Kephart, the architecture firm on the
project. “This is geared towards a lifestyle
of compact living.”
Smallest of all, a few 350-square-foot
“microunits” were leased almost immedi-
ately, he adds. “There’s a different mentali-
ty: ‘Maybe I don’t need all this stuff.’”
But small doesn’t mean spare, as granite
countertops, stainless steel appliances and
private patios are the norm.
Most of the two-bedrooms are more
than 1,000 square feet, and the develop-
ment also features 17 two-story townho-
mes with two bedrooms, not to mention
myriad public areas: an onsite pocket
park; first-floor community areas with a
pair of reservable meeting rooms, pool ta-
bles and fireplaces; and a rooftop amenity
deck with bocce court, barbecue grills and
community garden.
“You’ve got the apartment you can re-
treat to and other zones where you can go
out and meet your neighbors,” says Binder.
Denizen’s north and south buildings
are connected by a second-story pedes-
trian bridge spanning Dakota Avenue – a
nice perk for those who park in the north
building but live in the south, especially
in winter.
Then there are the stunning city and
mountain panoramas. “The views are spec-
tacular for urban,” touts Kovach. “From the
fifth level, you can see the scoreboard at
the Broncos stadium. You’ve got a view
from Pikes Peak all the way to Longs Peak.”
From the east, the aforementioned
bridge “is framing the mountains and it’s
also framing access to the light rail,” says
Binder, citing a stylized decorative form
inspired by the Rockies. “From the light
rail side, it’s a gateway to the city.”
The size of the site was a hurdle for the
project, says Kovach. “It’s definitely a very
constrained site.” The labor market proved
likewise. With a local labor shortage and a
crew that peaked at 150 workers, he adds,
“It becomes critical to maintain schedule.”
To do so, the project took a design-build
tact with Kephart handling the designing.
“It was a good design-build process,” says
Cover photo courtesy Michelle
Meunier Photography
OPENING ART:
The elevated outdoor
courtyard is a semi-private
retreat where residents can
grill, hang out with friends
and take in the action on
the transit platform below.
FACING PAGE:
Lush plantings (coming
soon) and colorful
separation walls activate
the space between
the townhome and
apartment units.
ABOVE LEFT:
Around the corner from
the game room, the
lounge provides a quiet
spot for residents to relax
with friends.
ABOVE RIGHT:
The fitness center has a
separate yoga studio, so
residents can get their zen
on stretching, meditating,
or doing yoga.
\ Urban Living Reimagined: Denizen \
Photo courtesy D4 Urban
Photo courtesy D4 Urban
