Upstairs, Downstairs. Introducing Our Newly Revitalized Studio In Denver’s LoDo Neighborhood

In 2013, R+B opened a light-filled, second-floor studio within an 1892 Blake Street building in Denver’s historic Lower Downtown (LoDo) District. Over the next few years, things got busier. The team grew. Bursting at the seams, it became clear that we needed to expand our space. So we did.

Now, we are extremely pleased to introduce our newly revitalized, two-level studio, with plenty of workspace to house our ever-evolving team and accommodate an influx of exciting projects.

A little backstory.

The home of the E.B. Miller Coffee Company way back when, the Blake Street building was in need of an upgrade that respected its storied past while introducing a more contemporary aesthetic.

Last fall, we replaced non-historic, street-level windows and doors with a new wood and glass storefront, introduced a more neutral material palette, and relocated the entry to its original location at the center of the storefront. “The renovation improved the building’s accessibility, increased visibility into the interior and lent an improved sense of symmetry to the overall structure,” notes R+B Principal, John Rowland, AIA, about the work.

This past spring, we reconfigured the entire ground floor with an open plan that spoke to the building’s original warehouse operation and addressed the team’s spatial requirements. Features such as occupancy and daylight sensors and LED lighting enhanced energy efficiency. Mirroring a full tenant build-out of the upper-level studio that took place in 2013, materials and details include exposed brick and timber, oak floors and built-in shelving and storage.

Naturally, all of these improvements are in keeping with the guidelines of the Lower Downtown Historic District. More than a fresh new space for our team, restoring this architectural resource restores the scale and rhythm of the block and benefits the surrounding community as a whole.