CREJ - Building Dialogue - December 2016
Those who walk into the studio of Johnson Nathan Strohe in downtown Denver are immediately drawn in. The preserved 1800s warehouse on Wynkoop clandestinely envelops modern details that captivate. Inside, exposed brick is lit with amber warmth, glass brick, wood beams and a stairway that is sculpturally encased – combining to create an ambiance that welcomes guests and encourages them to stay. The studio is also bristling with creative energy. Twelve languages are spoken here; nine nationalities are represented in the dynamic group that animates the three-story space. Across the street from this charming atelier is Union Station, which draws its own diverse crowd. Inside the bustling train station is the refuge called The Crawford Hotel, a key part of the station’s $50 million renovation. Voices as varied as Forbes Magazine and CNN have called the 112-room hotel one of the best in the world, adding to the increasing reputation of Denver as a world-class destination. In two short years, The Crawford has become the occupancy leader in the city. It is no wonder architect and Founding Partner James G. Johnson finds time to visit frequently, taking in the vibe of the lobby while sipping a cup of coffee. This is, after all, “sort of a community living room,” and Johnson, along with partners Nicole Nathan and Tobias Strohe, was instrumental in creating the space. The company teamed with Tryba Architects on the award-winning hospitality project. “The Crawford Hotel brings urban energy and joy to vast numbers of people, and serves a role in the community,” Johnson says when asked about the project. “Hospitality projects are so unique in that they are open 24/7, 365 days a year, and there are no locks on the front door. It’s open to everyone.” Johnson started making his mark on the burgeoning Colorado tourism industry after graduating from University of Colorado Boulder in 1978 with a master’s degree in architecture. His first landmark was the Kingdom Park Sports Pavilion in Breckenridge. He then spent several years working for a hotel company – an experience that he credits with giving him critical business acumen and insight into the hospitality industry. He founded JG Johnson Architects in 1993. It may have been Johnson’s undergraduate experience and interest in environmental design that gave him a taste for historic renovation. “I’m very proud of being able to meld historic preservation and inventive design,” Johnson says. It is this sentiment that influenced the firm’s trademark, Pragmatic Beauty™ – a balanced commitment to both aesthetics and function in every design, every project. He and his team have become a force in renovating historic structures in Colorado and the West while his firm has evolved into one of the leading hospitality firms in the Rockies. From the restored Hotel Monaco in downtown Denver to the Aspen St. Regis Hotel, the firm has left its mark on Colorado. The company also specializes in urban housing, such as The Douglas in the Ballpark Neighborhood and Turntable Studios, as well as numerous mixed-use and new-build properties. In 2015, Johnson Nathan Strohe rebranded to reflect the equity partnership of Nicole Nathan and Tobias Strohe. The leadership of the firm also includes Partner Tom Current and Principal Liz McDonald. What stands out in the truly collaborative culture of Johnson Nathan Strohe is the number of women in leadership roles, and the myriad growth opportunities for associates at every level, from interns to architects. Women make up 68 percent of the firm and comprise 60 percent of its leadership. The company is recognized by the American Institute of Architects as one of the nation’s top three employers of female staff. Although this has been a natural byproduct of “simply hiring the best people,” Johnson sees this as one of the firm’s key competitive advantages. “If we’re not employing women and minorities, we are missing out because we’re not tapping into the full spectrum of knowledge and resources available,” says Johnson. “We’re better because of the diversity in perspectives we’re able to offer.” Strohe echoes this sentiment, noting that women are more often the decision-makers when it comes to choosing a hotel. Having a female perspective in the design of the project is a valuable asset. The strong female influence allows the firm to design so-called “soft buildings,” such as hotels and housing, and “envision them through a female lens,” Strohe says. “Designing from that perspective gives us an advantage.” The effervescent Nathan, daughter of an interior designer, says the AIA recognizes the challenge of employing female architects. She says she’s proud of the fact that often in meetings, “the only woman in the room is the woman from Johnson Nathan Strohe.” It isn’t only in gender and nationality that the firm is diverse. Many in the studio are under 40, so it is vibrant in its youthfulness. “We like to give everyone an opportunity to contribute,” says Strohe. “You don’t have to be old to have good design ideas.” As leader of the firm’s mentorship program, McDonald emphasizes how critically important it is for the firm to support licensure for young associates. “Not only is it expensive, it’s time-consuming, and it’s hard. Having the support of an employer makes a huge difference to young talent.” The opportunities that abound for associates benefit clients as well, because everyone in the firm is a valued contributor, which results in a better-received built project. “We don’t separate design from execution,” Strohe says. There are no designers in the firm whose egos make them challenging to work with. According to Nathan and Strohe, clients value this because it means the ones who envisioned and designed the project are also the ones who execute. Nathan says this idea of continuous involvement is important to discerning developers. “The clients know whom they’re working with, right from the start,” she says. “The team that starts the project is the team who’ll work through to occupancy.” Johnson agrees. “We are able to be true partners to our clients, with design solutions that create a ‘halo effect’ noteworthy across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region,” he says. The son of a German architect and a cabinetmaker, Strohe began his career as an intern architect with JG Johnson Architects in 1999. Today, he looks on downtown Denver with a combination of artistic pride and boyish wonder. Numerous projects that he’s led have helped to revitalize and beautify the city, and he’s grown along with it. Current started as a bookkeeper with the firm more than nine years ago, and recently was named a partner. He provides strategic direction to contracts and business development. The Iowa native says he had no idea when he started with Johnson that he would be walking the site of a new hotel in downtown Denver almost a decade later, part of a team that’s literally changing the landscape of the city. While the team likes to spend time at The Crawford, as most architects will tell you, their favorite project is always the next one. In this case, the “next one” is the Maven Hotel, part of the Dairy Block redevelopment between Blake and Wazee streets. The project encompasses a full block at 18th and 19th streets, comprises an eight-story hotel, a six-story office building and underground parking that is scheduled to be completed in February. Nathan and McDonald are leading the design team of the hotel project, creating beautiful and thoughtful details in the guest rooms, and fashioning vibrant public areas. The latter features a shared-use area on the first floor that serves as a contiguous lobby for the hotel and office building. The area is flooded with natural light and will be enlivened with retail, restaurants and special events. In the guest rooms, finishes like soft lighting and tile stone mosaics in the bathrooms, and headboards that divide a cozy room into living and sleeping areas add charm and warmth to the former industrial site. Windows situated at the end of each hallway offer light and views, and are an appreciated and thoughtful design addition. It is interesting to note that in the course of a two-hour interview with the team, they spoke just as often about the camaraderie and community feel of the firm as the projects they’ve created together. When asked what he is most proud of, Johnson doesn’t hesitate. “The firm itself – because of the talent, values, dedication, teamwork and diversity we’ve built.” Because of the breadth and depth of talent of this team, it is destined to be a second- and third-generation firm, and will continue to sculpt pragmatic beauty from growing and historic Colorado.