Hard Hat Tour: Clayworks Golden (Members Only)

This is a members only tour. DAF Membership will be verified upon ticket purchase. Click here to become a DAF member. DAF Member tickets available June 25.

About the tour: This tour is a behind-the-scenes exploration of one of Colorado’s most ambitious redevelopment projects. The 14 acre site is now known as Clayworks and is located on the CoorsTek campus, representing how Colorado’s industrial history and creative future are intersecting. Once central to the region’s historic ceramics and clay production industry, the Clayworks site offers an opportunity to learn how legacy industrial campuses can evolve while retaining a powerful connection to place and identity. Participants will learn about the site’s architectural history and infrastructure, and the plans underway for its transformation. The tour will show active examples of adaptive reuse and industrial preservation, commingled with contemporary design and manufacturing elements.

About Clayworks: Located on 14 acres of land owned by the Coors family since 1884, Clayworks is the historic ceramics production area on the CoorsTek campus, and is being thoughtfully transformed into a walkable, deeply sustainable, innovative new district. This site represents a legacy of manufacturing, craftsmanship, and industrial production envisioned evolving into a state-of-the-art hub of contemporary material science and innovation.

About the tour guide:  Sarah Marvez, Director of Commercial Development at AC Development. Sarah brings 19 years of experience in design and construction, applying innovative design solutions to complex office, community, hospitality, and multi-family projects. Her work is defined by cutting-edge sustainability, user-centric design, and an emphasis on placemaking and design reflective of its place and time.

As a commercial project manager and architect, Sarah oversees design and construction efforts for AC Development through implementation of thoughtful design strategy, collaboration with local jurisdictions and contractors, and creation of cutting-edge teams.

Sarah is a licensed architect and is LEED AP BD + C accredited. She holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado Boulder, and a Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Colorado at Denver. Sarah has previously held positions as a Senior Project Architect at Gensler, and as an Architect with Jacobs. Sarah maintains a strong commitment to community involvement, frequently serving as a guest juror at the University of Colorado Denver. She has also been a participant in the American Institute of Architects mentorship program, the Urban Land Institute, and volunteering with Junior Achievement.

Accessibility: Due to the nature of an active construction site, the group is likely to be traversing uneven surfaces or using stairs that may not be suitable for wheelchairs or other mobility devices. There will be limited opportunity for seated rest throughout this tour.

******* IMPORTANT *******

This is an active construction site and anything can happen. PPE (hard hat, safety vest and safety glasses) is required for a portion of this tour. DAF will have loaner sets available for use, but if you would prefer to bring your own, please do so.

For safety purposes, attendees’ clothing must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Close-toed sturdy shoes: Boots do not have to be steel toe. Hiking boots are permitted if they are durable and at least ankle high. Tennis shoes, high heels, sandals, flip flops, and fashion boots are not acceptable footwear for the tour.
• Full-length pants or jeans: Pants must be long enough to touch the top of your shoes. Shorts, capri pants, skirts and dresses should not be worn.
• Shirts with minimum four-inch sleeves.

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 hours 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.