CREJ

MARCH 2017 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \

the tower reached 26 floors. And that called for a solution that Clark Construction, builders of

Chicago’s Midway Airport, Washington, D.C.’s African American Museum, Nashville’s Music

City Center, as well as the Denver Central Library, had never used before.

Trolian said that, with some trepidation, they utilized a European technology called a lock-

able dowel system. “This allowed us to go ahead and pour those strips monolithically, leave

access for the dowel lock and once we reached the 26th floor, we came back and locked it in.”

“It’s a very ingenious and, frankly, helpful solution that mitigated some major logistical chal-

lenges.”

Beautiful Inside and Out

The tower is skinned in high-performance glass and randommetal panels of blue and white,

which gives the hint of falling water. Come nightfall, a series of white LED lights run down

the side of the building to create the sense of water cascading downward. The lights will also

be programmed to go solid blue and orange during Broncos games and other special events.

Inside, the high-rise is loaded with luxury features and amenities. But, no doubt the biggest

draw is the breathtaking views of the Denver skyline and/or the mountains from almost every

floor. And the views from the two penthouses are truly spectacular. When you’re looking down

on Elitch’s Observation Tower, you know you’re pretty high up in the sky.

The low-rise spills out from the base of the tower and connects to a six-story midrise of more

luxury apartments. The low-rise will feature four stories of apartments, along with common

area amenities that include a large terrace with pool, cabanas for lounging, fire pits and heated

spa. Inside amenities include a tenant lounge with professional-grade catering kitchen, fitness

club with a large NanaWall that opens onto the park, dog-washing station and 24-hour con-

cierge.

According to the Gromatzky, zoning rules helped create one of the more interesting archi-

tectural features of The Confluence. “We had to bridge over a cut through that was defined by

the zoning diagram,” he says. “That cut through allows a view of the REI building and the park

from the corner of 15th and Little Raven.

FAR LEFT:

The Confluence

makes a bold and

beautiful statement

in the Central Platte

Valley.

LEFT:

Little Raven Street,

seen below, is named

after Chief Little

Raven, who camped

with his Southern

Arapahoe people at

this location.

\ The Confluence Goes with the Flow \