Colorado Real Estate Journal - February 18, 2015
Tenant finish construction firm Max Construction Inc. recently completed the renovation of a historic space at 1550 Wynkoop St. in downtown Denver for Shears Adkins Rockmore Architects. In addition to serving as architect on the project, the two-floor, 5,474-square-foot space is Shears Adkins Rockmore’s new home. Max Construction’s goal as contractor on the project was to marry the historic elements of the space with Shears Adkins Rockmore’s cutting-edge design aesthetic, the firm noted. The building was originally finished in 1898 along with the rest of the 15th-16th Street block in a series of interconnected buildings. During the process of completing structural work, the team made a discovery that ultimately would enhance the design of the space. “During demolition we uncovered steel beams that were installed in the building very early on,” said Dean Smith, architect with Shears Adkins Rockmore. “The beams are made of large angles and plates, which are riveted together. This structure was consistent with the new steel elements we had already designed for the space. Despite the challenges to bringing the old beams up to fire code, the team at Max Construction was able to quickly adapt and deliver the project on our original timeline.” In addition to the steel beams, Max Construction was able to keep much of the original heavy timbers, flagstone foundation and original brick, which helped the space retain the character of the original design. “We see this space as the perfect blend of nostalgia and forward-thinking,” said Mark McGann, vice president at Max Construction. “A big part of what makes LoDo so special is the unique architecture of these historic buildings, so the Max Construction team did everything we could to respect the building’s past while incorporating modern features that reflect Shears Adkins Rockmore’s focus on innovative design.” Some of that modernization included significant structural work to remove sections of the first floor to allow natural light into the basement level. Additionally, a two-stage “floating” staircase from the first floor to the basement level was added to create a new access point. Max Construction completed the work in 10 weeks.