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\ Gensler: Colorado Cache, Global Panache \
spaces, a light-flooded main lobby, and bleacher-style lobby seating for private and public
gatherings. To encourage staff movement during the day, much of the common office equip-
ment and group amenities were located in places best reached by taking the stairs. The sec-
ond-floor office space adjoins a roof deck with plantings and additional gathering areas that
beckons users to bask and socialize in Colorado’s iconic air and sunshine.
For another recent project, the Denver team executed flawlessly on another metatrend,
which Gensler calls “urbanity.” Projects that embrace this mixed-use medley are becoming in-
OPENING ART:
Gensler’s Downtown
Denver office
supports the
firm’s creative
and collaborative
culture, while
enhancing their
ability to innovate
and deliver
outstanding service
to their clients.
Photo courtesy
Nick Merrick
FACING PAGE:
Gensler’s design
for 16M, positioned
at the prominent
corner of 16th and
Market, sets the
new standard of
what an authentic
modern LoDo
building is.
Photo courtesy
Neil Podoll
As aficionados of visual beauty in all forms, it’s not surprising that Denver’s Gensler office is
an energetic supporter of several programs of the VSA Colorado/Access Gallery. VSAC, which
supports art for people with disabilities, was founded by former ambassador Jean Kennedy
Smith 35 years ago.
The force behind Gensler’s participation is Amy Siegel, a petite powerhouse associate, who
joined Gensler 33 years ago and has championed VSAC among her co-workers for the past 10
years. Three Gensler employees sit on the VSAC board and most of the company’s staff has
volunteered for the nonprofit at one time or another.
“Amy is the single strongest catalyst for our community work with VSAC,” notes Denver
Managing Director and Principal Jon Gambrill.
While volunteering in a summer program for youth with disabilities, Siegel learned that 70
percent of those students would have a hard time finding future jobs and that life skills and
job training opportunities virtually evaporated when the students turned 21.
“It changedmy view,” says Siegel, who immediately threwher volunteer support into Giving
Voice, a VSAC programinwhich students withdisabilities are pairedwithprofessional graphic
designers to tackle a social issue. The Colorado chapter of the AIGA is a programpartner.
“I learned what they were passionate about,” Siegel says. “Students were able to draw what
they were feeling and that opened a whole avenue for expression. Some of the students are
now professional artists but even if not, I’ve seen tremendous changes in every student’s con-
fidence level from this program.”
Siegel is also a tireless supporter of VSAC’s ArtWorks program that pairs student artists and
a professional artist to create a one-of-a-kind work commissioned by companies and organi-
zations. Money earned from the art goes to the students and back into the ArtWorks program.
Not surprisingly, Siegel’s home is a virtual VSAC gallery and she’s exceptionally proud of a
giant, vibrantly colored three-panel art piece that hangs in Gensler’s offices and celebrates the
company’s global connections created in the ArtWorks program (pictured above). Two Gensler
clients, Colorado Business Bank and T. Rowe Price, are among Denver companies that have
commissioned original pieces through the ArtWorks program.
This July through September, Gensler is opening its lobby to VSAC for a monthly series of
public lectures by VSAC visiting artists. The event is just the type of community gathering
Gensler wanted to foster when it designed a portion of its lobby for public programs.
“Beyond the office setting, that’s one of the great things about Gensler,” Siegel says. “You can
express your creative passions here, professionally andpersonally. I’mproud towork for a com-
pany that is so committed to giving back to the community.”
For more on VSAC, visit .