Colorado Real Estate Journal - March 18, 2015
Anchored on Lower Downtown’s historic Market Street is the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. Over the past 150 years, it has aided in the formation, acceleration and prosperity of the city of Denver. Last year, BurkettDesign took the lead on the Chamber’s reimagined 27,000-square-foot space. From locally sourced materials to the collaborative environment, Denver was the inspiration for every detail, the firm noted. Elevator doors open to a spacious lobby drenched in unrivaled Colorado sunshine and natural sandstone sweeps across the open floor plan, leading to beetle-kill pine walls that connect the entire space. The pine walls celebrate Denver’s resourcefulness, entrepreneurship and resilience, according to BurkettDesign. “It was a three-year visioning project beginning with Amy and Robert Blankenship, the past COO of the chamber,” said Amy Burkett, FAIA, founder of BurkettDesign. Discussions of how the existing dark office maze could evolve to represent Denver going forward shaped the design. Cutting-edge technology adorns the walls, a juxtaposition of nature and science, beauty and function, similar to the city’s business environment. The layering of understated and natural materials throughout the two-level space create a forward-thinking sense of discovery with a respectful nod to a pioneering past, led by Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President Kelly Brough’s goals for the chamber’s home. Though there are no cowboy boots or 10-gallon hats in view, the atmosphere cultivates the independent spirit of Western heritage, according Catherine Quintero BurkettDesign principal in charge. The collaborative environment is inspirational as vertical gardens climb next to communal workstations fitted with treadmill desks, adjustable height desks and yoga ball seats. Hightech conference rooms host business leaders, government officials and hopeful entrepreneurs. Collaborative spaces foster impassioned discussions between the Chamber’s diverse staff leading to trailblazing business decisions. The open staircase and floor plan evoke movement and growth in a space as unrestricted as the American frontier, according to Ben Niamthet, associate principal at BurkettDesign. Project partners included Hyder Construction and OfficeScapes. BurkettDesign also collaborated with RNL on the exterior renovation to involve additional thought and leadership in the overall process.