CREJ

DECEMBER 2017 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \

irtuous design is responsive, the best of it on many levels. For Riverview at

1700 Platte, a 213,713-square-foot Class A office building being developed by

Trammell Crow Co., strategic building massing and a thoughtful internal or-

ganization richly enhance contextual connections. Located west across the

river from Union Station, as the name suggests, Riverview celebrates the

South Platte, as the tributary churns a svelte hook around downtown Denver

on its way to Nebraska. The building also will strive to celebrate the river’s namesake

street, Platte, a slim stretch of city blocks pinned between the river and Interstate 25.

“I had my eye on a Platte Street opportunity for about 15 years before this project start-

ed to come together,” says Bill Mosher, senior managing director of Trammell Crow Co.,

with a grin. “Platte Street seemed like a small, unpolished gem tucked away while big

development was happening all around it.” The street’s remaining original, two- and

three-story red brick buildings today still proudly proclaim Denver’s frontier town

past in service to the mid-1800s mining industry economy of gambling, saloons, live-

stock and goods. The oldest remaining buildings retain their retail focus, spruced up

by clever sellers of small-batch ice cream, beers, teas and clothing. Platte Street’s early

remnants have been infiltrated by low-rise, mixed-use apartment buildings inserted

over the last 20 years. The combined effect gives the street’s few short blocks a bus-

tling but unfinished town square quality.

“The site was owned by Empire Staple Co.,” shares Mosher. “A lot of developers

wanted the property and the owner said he’d sell to whoever found find him a

replacement site he couldn’t resist.” Eventually, Mosher did and the deal was done.

With the title in hand, the true challenge was in determining exactly what to do

with coveted real estate sitting just a bit more than a block from dual-pedestrian

bridges. To the west, over I-25, is the Lower Highlands neighborhood. To the east,

the footpath crosses the South Platte, through Commons Park to the Millenni-

um Bridge, Union Station, Lower Downtown and the heart of the city beyond.

“We considered a lot of different development scenarios,” says Mosher, who

mentions the option of adding to the mix of multifamily residential in the

area meant contending with an estimated 3,000 units within a half-mile of

the site. “Ultimately, we felt that the neighborhood, the river, the park and

this site’s forever-unobstructed views of Union Station were amenities that

WORDS:

Sean O’Keefe