The STEAM on the Platte Walking Tour

Tour Description: The STEAM on the Platte tour will showcase a property that has had many lives.  First as a settlement for Indigenous population, then in the 1880’s, a home for Jewish families escaping from Czarist Russia and finally a place of industry until the 1965 S Platte River flood. In the last ten years, the remaining buildings have been renovated for creative office space and Raices Brewery to anchor the site. Future phases will include a residential building and a hotel.  The overall development is focused on the S Platte River which once was a dumping ground and now is a deeply embraced asset for the community.

About the buildings: 1401 Zuni  St – This 55,000 sq ft building was built over time in 4 phases.  It first was Bremer’s Soap Factory and then became a Rag Baling business which was operated by a Rabbi.  While the exterior of the original building was not particularly notable, the inside was filled with quite remarkable features, most of which were preserved through the renovation  process.  The design philosophy was to “Do No Harm.” The result is a very unique building that honors its past and creates a very interesting working environment. 2060 W. Colfax Ave – this building sits on the foundation on one of the former Jewish Congregation Buildings and was operated as a car repair facility for many years.  Its bow string roof created a perfect environment for a brewery.  Again, most of the original components of the building  were preserved with many colorful design elements added.

About the guides: Michael M. Moore, Principal, Tres Birds, the innovative Denver architecture firm that has risen to prominence since he founded it in 2000. Known as a visionary who seamlessly integrates architecture and art with environmentally-sound methods, Moore’s transformative work exemplifies his belief that architecture can create a better world.

Susan Powers, President, Urban Ventures, LLC, a Denver real estate development company that has built multiple mixed income and mixed-use projects in Denver over the past 27 years. The focus is to build communities which provide opportunities for residents and commercial tenants to live and work in a healthy and prosperous environment. Urban Ventures has led the redevelopment of a 17-acre former convent in northwest Denver into a model mixed income neighborhood called Aria Denver that includes 540 residential units (35% affordable) and commercial space. She also led STEAM on the Platte, an adaptive reuse of a former industrial property on the Platte River, south of Mile High Stadium. It includes the renovation of a 100-year-old warehouse into office space for creative businesses and another building that was renovated for the city’s first Latino owned and operated craft brewery, Raices Brewing. Urban Ventures has been the development partner/advisor for Warren Village in the development of their new Campus on West Alameda which includes 89 residential units for single parent families and an Early Learning Center to serve 120 kids. This consulting role for affordable housing has also been an important part of the Colorado Health Foundation’s Tapestry Block in Uptown where the first phase building to serve lower income families will be under construction this year. Urban Ventures is playing a similar role on the Clayton Early Learning Campus and at the Barth Hotel in downtown Denver. Prior to creating Urban Ventures, she was Executive Director of DURA (Denver Urban Renewal Authority) for 11 years (late 80’s and 90’s) and participated in the redevelopment of downtown Denver. She is a member of the board of directors of the Elevation Community Land Trust (ECLT), the ULI Advisory Committee, Advisory Board for Enterprise Communities, and a member of the Denver Health Real Estate Advisory Committee. She participates in many community initiatives regarding equity, affordable housing and historic preservation.

Accessibility: The tour will primarily use stairs; however, an elevator and ADA-accessible ramp are also available for building access.

Refund policy: The Denver Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization. Ticket sales support the Foundation in continuing to provide quality events to the public. We are unable to provide refunds or credits for any reason less than 48 days prior to the event.

Please note that DAF tours take place rain, snow or shine. If your tour includes an outdoor portion, please dress for the weather. DAF staff will contact all attendees directly should a tour be cancelled for any reason.

Photo provided courtesy of Urban Ventures LLC