The GoSpotCheck headquarters in Denver, Colorado, has been honored as the recipient of a 2023 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architecture Award.
The 1,486-m2 (16,000-sf) new infill structure was designed as a modern expansion of the historic Rocky Mountain Seed Building, bridging a critical gap in the Lower Downtown (LoDo) streetscape.
The tech company’s HQ carefully draws on the scale and proportions of the neighboring 1880s commercial buildings, while introducing contemporary expression of transparency with steel and glass. The result is a unique “jewel box” which boldly reveals how innovative infill can complement existing city fabric. The three-story building aligns to the three floors of the Seed Building next to it, and the vertical and horizontal lines of the facade correspond to the older building’s facade. It sits on the site of a parking ground next to the historic building, which did not do much to enhance the streetscape.
The building completes the street wall on the southeast corner of 15th and Market streets. Floors two and three include 465 m2 (5,000 sf) of office with interior connections to the Seed Building. The top-floor mezzanine features an L-shaped deck with views through LoDo to the Rocky Mountains beyond.
Designed by Tryba Architects, the interior of exposed structural wood glulam beams and wood decking adheres to the exposed structure of the adjacent Seed Building. The exterior is composed of a prefabricated, custom-engineered, recycled steel curtain wall system with aluminum-clad wood windows.
“From the very beginning of the process, we worked closely with our client, the community, and the Lower Downtown Design Review Board to create a structure that would integrate seamlessly into the historic neighborhood, yet fully embrace the future,” says David Tryba, FAIA, lead design principal and founder of Tryba Architects. “The results show how big things can happen with small buildings.”
“We are extraordinarily grateful to the AIA for recognizing GoSpotCheck Headquarters. The project demonstrates our firm’s commitment to balancing the principles of context, continuity, and change in our urban environments.”
