REI Denver Flagship Walking Tour

Tickets will go on sale on August 1st at 4pm 

About this Tour: Participants will tour the historic Denver Tramway Power Company, the current home of REI’s Denver flagship store. The tour will begin with an exploration of the building’s exterior and site, concluding inside the building in the former turbine room that now houses a towering indoor climbing pinnacle. The tour will focus on the project’s history, preservation, and rehabilitation efforts as well as the REI’s operational challenges and successes with the project.

About the building: Constructed in 1901 and sited at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, the restored Denver Tramway building provided power for Denver’s once extensive streetcar network. As Denver grew and evolved, reliance on streetcars declined and the building eventually was vacant for 10 years during the 1950’s and 60’s before eventually housing the Forney Transportation Museum. Unfortunately, the building’s conditions also continued to decline over the years until REI identified it as a unique restoration and rehabilitation opportunity to house its Denver flagship.

About REI: REI Denver provides outdoor enthusiasts in the Denver metro area with top-brand gear and clothing for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, paddling, skiing, snowboarding, and more. As a complete Denver-area bike shop, offering a full range of professional bike and snow shop services. The staff of friendly experts will help you get ready for your next adventure.

About the Tour Guides: Chris Mahoney, Senior Operations Specialist, started working for REI at the Reading, Massachusetts store. Relocating to Denver in 1990, he has worked at all 3 iterations of Denver REI. In his current role Chris provides oversight of all the facilities, buildings, and grounds. Much of his work life is spent collaborating with contractors for repairs and maintenance of plumbing, electrical, HVAC, landscaping, parking lots, and elevators. As the Platte Street property is 124 years old, constant care is required. Major renovation projects require collaborating with the Colorado Historical Foundation, the City and County of Denver, and other stakeholders. Chris is married and has five adult children. He lives in Westminster and is an avid hiker, backpacker, canoeist, paddle boarder, and camper. He is a less-avid cyclist and trail runner, but he can usually be persuaded, given enough snacks.

Bryan Schmidt, President of Semple Brown Design, has overseen many of the firm’s most successful projects. His talent in programming, design, and the construction of large-scale, technically complex structures has garnered awards, client accolades, and recognition from his peers for more than 20 years. Bryan is fiercely dedicated to his work and his clients are his highest priority. Bryan’s architecture is deeply rooted in each project’s context, the creative application of proven principles, and devotion to his clients, resulting in innovative design solutions at an exceptional value. Since joining Semple Brown in 1996, the integration of his design, detailing, and construction management abilities, with his project architect, project manager, and client liaison skills, has allowed him to exceed client expectations by delivering something extra every time.

Accessibility: REI Denver is ADA compliant with a series of ramps and elevators throughout the store.

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.

Photo Credit: Photo provided by Semple Brown.