CREJ

March 2022 — Office & Industrial Quarterly — Page 15 www.crej.com INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE acquilano.com 303.893.5355 acquilano.com / 303.893.5355 Women-owned and Denver-based, Acquilano has a 36 year history of transforming space into dynamic environments where people prefer to be. We are ready to listen, share our insights, and to devise customized solutions for this rapidly changing work environment. GRIFFIS BLESSING GriffisBlessing.com • 303-804-0123 35+ Years Experience 6M+ Commercial Square Feet Voted One of the Top Places to Work by The Gazette & The Denver Post Your Property Management Experts OFFICE — DESIGN first- and second-floor lobby space into an expansive amenities space with a lounge and coffee shop, as well as a coworking area, a 48-person conference room, a game room with an arcade, a flex fitness area, outdoor patio and bike storage. The effect is that the lobby becomes an extension of the office, providing in-demand offerings and a means of attracting and keeping both tenants and their employees. n Differentiating the design. While optimizing square footage is an important part of the equation, to dif- ferentiate a space, the design must leave a lasting impression on poten- tial tenants after a long day of touring spaces. For the revitalization of the lobby at 17th and Larimer, the design team embraced the context of the build- ing and its smaller scale to create the impression tenants are entering a sophisticated under-the-radar mem- bers club. Leaning into the character of the building, the design incorpo- rates clean lines and luxe materials alongside memorable features like the striking light fixture. Our firm took a far more playful approach to the design at 1660 Lin- coln, using experiential art to create memory points. Beyond simply plac- ing paintings on a wall, we incorpo- rated three-dimensional installations designed to engage and surprise (and likely end up on more than a few Ins- tagram feeds). The artful design at 1660 Lincoln extends to the exterior of the building with an immersive seven-story mural that imaginatively “reveals” the activi- ties taking place within the building. But instead of seeing the typical office workers going about their day, we see playful elements like a dinosaur sit- ting at a desk. The visual experience of the design on both the interior and exterior of the building creates a compelling experience designed to inspire visitors and passersby to pause and take a second look. n Programming for optimal activation. The third critical element in success- fully repositioning an office lobby is considering how the space is acti- vated. Beyond thinking of the lobby as an extension of the tenant environ- ment, the right mix of programming for consistent activation can ensure the experience entering the building feels alive and engaging for tenants and their guests – a not-insignificant factor considering how empty and uninviting many buildings felt over the last two years. Taking cues from hospitality, these spaces are designed to create a welcoming experience regardless of when tenants or visitors use the space. Maximizing the flexibility and utility of spaces from day to night is essential to creating this experience. At 17th and Larimer, we expanded the usability of the security desk to accommodate different activities. During the day, there could be a flo- rist creating arrangements. In the evening, it will be able to transform into an exclusive, yet accessible, happy hour spot for tenants. At 1660 Lincoln, the now expansive open amenity lobby serves as a fun place to gather, collaborate and play at various intervals of the day. The flexible café space is designed to sup- port a variety of uses. It can be staffed with baristas in the morning, stocked with bottled water throughout the day and host bartenders for a tenant event in the evening. An arcade is flanked by bench seating, creating the ideal nook for hosting an impromptu team happy hour or providing ten- ants with a quick change of scenery throughout the course of their work- day. The concept of repositioning older office stock isn’t new, but it’s more important than ever in the competi- tion for tenants. High-end amenities will put you in the mix, but it’s the memorable experience of differenti- ated programming and design that ultimately will set you apart in the market. s tboyer@ozarch.com ajohnson@ozarch.com Continued from Page 1 remains strong, and new office build- ings are often fully leased before even breaking ground. Expectations that overflow from Cherry Creek would drive demand along Colorado Boulevard have failed to come to fruition, and landlords are feeling the impact. Many buildings need improvements, and investors have begun to divert their assets into less risk-adverse properties. As Denver companies continue to navigate their operations in a post-COVID-19 landscape, the office market will adapt to changing work- place demands in both expected and unexpected ways. While there is no predicting exactly what this year will look like, assessing space, loca- tion, flexibility and quality needs will remain at the forefront of commercial real estate decisions for tenants. s Cullen Continued from Page 6 surrounding environment, reducing indoor temperature fluctuations. The high thermal mass of the concrete wall panels provides thermal storage and reduces energy requirements through the ability of the concrete to absorb, store and release heat as needed. This natural release to the interior of the structure will dra- matically shift the energy demands of HVAC equipment, and this shift reduces peak demand as well as the duration of the peak requirement. As the construction market contin- ues to proliferate, prefabricated prod- ucts including precast concrete will continue to offer a viable solution to the expedited building process. Pre- cast inherently provides efficiency, resiliency, versatility, durability and aesthetic advantages needed to meet structural and architectural require- ments of this ever-growing market segment. s shartnett@stresscon.com Hartnett Continued from Page 14