Announcements August 20, 2024

Our Denver Studio’s Newly Renovated Space Prioritizes People-Centric Design

Through people-focused design strategies, the new studio provides choice, flexibility, and variety to accommodate the diversity of all people.

This spring, our Denver studio unveiled their newly renovated office space. Designed to promote wellness and provide the studio and their clients with a truly universal environment, the reimagined workplace celebrates the legacy of the historic building through human-centric design principles and our living design framework.

“We have a wide variety of studio members with varying interests and needs. We wanted to make sure this space supports the spectrum of needs within our studio and the broader community,” says Robin Ault, Design Director, and lead designer on the renovation project, “Through tailored design strategies we have transformed our workplace into a welcoming and effective environment for a diverse set of people.”

Embodying collaboration, the new workplace removed all previously walled offices, creating a flexible and open concept plan. Versatile surfaces make it easy to pin-up and review work. Intentional spaces like a wellness room and mothers’ room were integrated to support employee well-being. A café, community seating area, bike racks, and a shower were also included to accommodate the team’s active lifestyles.

Reviving the Rainbow Ballroom

The Denver studios historic building was originally constructed in 1927 as a Studebaker auto dealership. In 1930, the building was purchased and transformed into the Rainbow Ballroom, Colorado’s premier venue for live music and dancing. In 1946, the entertainment facility was named “the best-known dance hall west of the Mississippi” by Billboard. In its heyday, the ballroom was open six nights a week and hosted legendary acts like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong’s Big Band, Verne Byers, Nat King Cole, and many other famous performers. The Rainbow Ballroom closed its doors in 1961 and operated under various businesses until 2001 when Perkins&Will, formerly known as Sink Combs Dethlefs (SCD), purchased and renovated the historic building.

The goal was to honor the building’s storied legacy as a premier entertainment destination. At the time, SCD had a global reputation for its sports and entertainment architecture. Revitalizing this space not only celebrated Denver’s history but also aligned with the design firm’s ethos. Now, more than 15 years later, the firm has revitalized this space once more, positioning the Denver based practice for a new era of design excellence.

Parrish Ruiz De Velasco
Parrish Ruiz De Velasco
Designing Healthy Buildings

To design a truly universal environment, the project team synthesized neurological inclusive design with environmental and wellness design. Guided by the Living Design Framework and our seven design drivers, the design team selected sustainable options that promote occupant health, helping the studio pursue LEED Certification. By thoughtfully selecting materials, the design team ensured that the workplace not only meets functional and aesthetic requirements but also aligns with the studio’s commitment to sustainability and occupant well-being.

The new materials library emphasizes low embodied carbon and material transparency. Corianne Burrell, Interior Project Manager, highlighted the new libraries importance: “This will support our leadership in reducing embodied carbon, promoting material health transparency and circularity.”

These choices align with various industry commitments and guidelines, including the AIA Materials Pledge, AIA 2030 commitment, Perkins&Will’s Precautionary List, and Living Building Challenge Red List. Burrell noted the team’s focus on avoiding synthetic chemicals that can be damaging to people and the planet.

By prioritizing products with EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations), the design aimed to minimize the global warming potential of each material used in the renovation.

Design that Moves us Forward

The reimagined Denver studio honors the firm’s commitment to creating a more beautiful, sustainable, and equitable world. Through intentional design, the project honors the history of the building and its location while embracing the evolving needs of the modern workforce and our ever-changing world.

Parrish Ruiz De Velasco

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