CREJ

June 2019 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 93 space as a swirling, vertical circulation spine, the stairs compel physical activity and increase the likelihood of chance interactions and spontaneous discovery among building users. The clean curves of the stair are animated as the precise, elegant geometry for the form re- veals itself in tones of shadow and light. Beyond understanding the owner’s objec- tives, Daniel feels that it’s important to appre- ciate that effective architecture in the context of city-building requires structures of many magnitudes. Trying to make every building an icon is a mistake. “In this heated market, there is a lot of com- modity going on,” says Daniel. In the rush to claim and repurpose parcels for profit, density and speed-to-market seem to define objectives, especially Denver’s recent rash of pop-up mul- tifamily developments. Daniel diplomatically suggests that for some developers, it’s a matter of temporary versus timeless, the latter taking far longer to accomplish. Davis Partnership, of course, strives to be on the side of enduring architecture. “Some of the most important ar- chitecture in Denver has been deliberately de- signed to become part of the urban fabric as a background building.” Illustrating his point, a downtown parcel de- veloped by Shea Properties at 17th and Curtis provided Davis Partnership with the unique opportunity to do both a background build- ing and an iconic edifice in collusion on the same site. Combining a 28-story residential tower offering best-in-class amenities with a 94,000-square-foot office building that fea- tures a dramatic, glass enclosure along the 17th Street frontage, the two distinctly designed / Design Intent / OPENING ART: Prism’s iconic exterior is distinguished by six angled glass planes that shatter conventional thinking and define a sense of prestige. TOP LEFT: Designed to embrace context and scale, the Colorado Health Foundation Headquarters’ architecture reflects a thoughtful outward mission and community embrace. BOTTOM LEFT: Good design responds thoughtfully to context and community, making the sum greater than its parts. RIGHT: Dressed for downtown and 28 stories tall, the Quincy takes luxury apartment living to the highest level.