to complement the architectural character of the surrounding buildings. The oval plaza is the “main event” and serves as the community gathering area – allowing for a large patio space and restaurant seating in the summer and an ice-skating rink in winter. The plaza is the main pedestrian arterial from Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall to the local Farmer’s Market and trail system, making the pedestrian experience a celebrated feature. The adjacent one-way street follows the arch of the oval which slows traffic. Large planters containing trees, grasses and ornamental plants, were placed along the street/bike path to separate the street from the pedestrian areas.

This mixed-use, urban infill project is in the Pearl Street Mall District in Downtown Boulder, Colorado. The Design Vision was for open plan loft condominiums with period exposed steel structure, polished concrete floors and modern minimalist kitchens over incubator office labs. Design challenges included exposed steel frame and concrete floors with high levels of acoustic isolation, and difficult parking garage access through a second underground parking garage and below a private alley.