Renovation+Preservation: Respecting the past, present and future

“When invited to participate in the renovation or preservation of an existing home or building, the changes we make are designed to nourish the human experience and legacy of the site.” R+B Principal John Rowland, AIA

While the above comment is fundamental to all of the many renovation and historic preservation projects R+B has undertaken over the years across several categories, two of our favorite examples are the buildings our Aspen and Denver teams are fortunate enough to call home.

Mesa Building: Our new sustainably designed Aspen studio, set within in a 1890s landmark building we respectfully renovated and restored as our national headquarters, received the 2019 Historic Preservation Award from Aspen’s Historic Preservation Commission upon completion. Our Denver studio in the Lower Downtown Historic District (LoDo) is located within an 1892 historic commercial building. Following the guidelines of the Lower Downtown Historic District, re-imaging and reconfiguring the space improved its functionality while allowing much of its original character to remain.

[before]                                                                                                                [after]

[before]                                                                                                                [after]

Ridge House: For a residential project titled Ridge House, the team paid special attention to remaining true to the essence of the original design while making the home relevant for the high-profile family that would be living in it. Its original owner was ski legend Stein Eriksen and the original architect, Ellie Brickham, Aspen’s first female architect, made the journey all the more challenging. While circumstances required the home be taken down to the studs and rebuilt, the team was able to retain the integrity and spirit of its design and improve its flow. Elements including the original fireplaces and Eriksen’s hand-carved front door were preserved.

[before]                                                                                                                                               [after]

Aspen Times Building and Suites at the Hotel Jerome: In addition to undergoing a rigorous entitlement process, R+B embraced the task of addressing two visually opposed buildings, the landmark 1889 Hotel Jerome and the 1904 Aspen Times Building. Hotel Jerome’s stately brick façade sent the tone for a new, multiple-suite and gathering place addition, and The Aspen Times building’s informal, historic wood façade was respected and enhanced as it was transformed into a speakeasy and entertainment venue. Read more about the renovation and preservation efforts for this project.

About the project, Hotel Jerome General Manager Tony DiLucia notes, “R+B’s appreciation of and sensitivity toward historical architectural preservation is exemplary, as are their design skills and professionalism.”