Venture Architecture

Hydrogen Fuel Cells in your Computer?

2011-12-30T16:36:00.001-07:00

Yes, you read the title correctly... in the near future, will hydrogen fuel cells supply power to our computers and cell phones? According to Apple, most definitely. Recently, the US Patent and Trademark office released a patent, filed by Apple in 2010, to manufacture portable fuel cell recharging stations and an embedded fuel cell inside mobile electronics. The fuel cells would be capable of both providing power and receiving power from a battery. The patent claims the fuel cell technology could power a mobile device for weeks. Weeks! Whether or not this new technology is in the works for Apple, or if it is just an attempt to corner a future market remains to be seen, but the prospects of using your computer for weeks without recharging is very exciting.

Photo Credit: http://www.gizmag.com/apple-fuel-cell-system-patent-application/20958/pictures#2

We here at Venture are keeping our fingers crossed for super-efficient computer batteries. Not only will this be much more convenient, but fuel cell technology will cut-down the amount of nasty chemicals and rare earth-metals needed to manufacture computers and cell phones. Let's hope that Apple has good things coming our way!

Harding and Shelton Offices Featured on AIA Oklahoma's Website!

2011-12-19T15:15:00.001-07:00

Have you been on AIA Oklahoma's website recently?

photo credit: www.aiaok.org

If so, you may have seen a photo of the Harding & Shelton Offices featured on the main page. Located in Oklahoma City, Venture Architecture's design just won a Citation Award for the Interior Design of the Harding & Shelton Offices.

Check it out here! (You may have to click refresh a few times before getting to a Venture image)

You can also check out all of the winners here.

More Good News from the Solar Industry!

2011-12-19T11:57:00.000-07:00

More good news is coming from the solar industry! Even with the ongoing scrutiny and criticism of solar power, technology continues to improve, financing is more accessible, and "the price of solar energy-generated electricity, calculated by a legitimate levelized cost of energy (LCOE) method, is now competitive in many regions with the price of electricity generated by conventional sources." What does that mean? Solar, in many regions, is just as cheap, or in some locations cheaper, than the electricity you get from the grid! A main reason for this big drop in pricing is due in large part to overly-conservative LCOE calculations that neglected the long life-span of PV panels, and the low to almost non-existent maintenance costs. Compared to the costs of maintaining a power plant, these low costs seem even more obvious. Finally, this study does NOT include any of the cost benefits associated with cleaner energy when compared to coal or natural gas. If those values were included, solar pricing could drop below grid parity. You can find the full article here, and the full study with data here.

photo credit: http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_photovoltaics.html

Another story from the solar industry could prove just as beneficial to the ongoing quest for renewable energy sources. Xiaoyang Zhu, a chemist at The University of Texas at Austin, may have discovered a way to improve the efficiency of solar panels by 50% to 100%! You can read the full article here at Joe Romm's blog Climate Progress. Basically, "the maximum theoretical efficiency of the silicon solar cell in use today is approximately 31 percent, because much of the sun’s energy hitting the cell is too high to be turned into usable electricity. That energy, in the form of “hot electrons,” is instead lost as heat. Capturing hot electrons could potentially increase the efficiency of solar-to-electric power conversion to as high as 66 percent." The article explains the process in more detail which is a little to technical for me to try and explain.

photo credit: http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_photovoltaics.html

For the architectural world, this could me more buildings covered in PV installations. It will be important for architects to design new buildings with the proper solar orientation, in order to for the clients to take advantage of solar power, while providing a proper installation surface and making the building aesthetically pleasing. If panel efficiency improved by 100%, smaller arrays could be possible, but would still need a properly oriented surface. The most exciting prospect is for buildings to be ZNE or Zero Net Energy. If panel efficiency doubled, proper solar orientation utilized and mechanical systems are made smaller by use of natural ventilation and passive solar heating, buildings could actually put energy back into the grid. A huge and very exciting prospect for everyone in the building industry! We here at Venture Architecture cannot wait to get our hands on such a project!

Follow the GreenTech industry here: http://www.greentechmedia.com/

Follow Joe Romm's blog Climate Progress at www.thinkprogress.org/romm/issue

* Author's note: Romm's blog can be very political at times. Please note that we here at Venture Architecture may not share the same political views as the blog. Nevertheless, Romm's blog provides a lot of great information on renewable energy and the overall climate.

-Will Campbell

Design Miami features an installation by David Adjaye

2011-12-06T09:54:00.009-07:00

Last week's Design Miami event in Miami Beach featured an installation by David Adjaye, architect of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver. Adjaye was honored with the fair's Designer of the Year award. Design Miami is a part of a global art forum associated with Art Basel in Switzerland that celebrates design culture and commerce. Each year it attracts collectors, designers, curators and critics interested in viewing the best in cutting edge design from around the world.

Photo by Fred A. Bernstein

Adjaye's installation titled "Genesis" was commissioned for the fair and placed at the entrance to the venue. The triangular pavilion is design as "architectural furniture," with hundreds of vertical hanging timbers creating a structural and sculptural volume.

The Clyfford Still Museum opens next week.

2011-11-10T10:28:00.001-07:00

Beginning with a week of gala events for members and donors, the Clyfford Still Museum will open its doors the the public for the first time on Saturday, November 14th at 10:00am. The opening of the new museum designed by Allied Works Architecture of Portland, OR was covered on the Architectural Record website. The article featured a tour by Allied Works architect, Brad Cloepfil as he toured the completed museum. It's always gratifying when a new building in Denver is recognized in the national news!

Photo by Jeremy Bittermann via Architectural Record

Venture Architecture wins AIA Oklahoma Design Award!

2011-11-07T14:22:00.002-07:00

Venture Architecture has won an AIA Oklahoma Design Excellence Award! Our design, for the Harding and Shelton Office was deemed by a panel of judges to be the best-of-the-best in the "Interior Architecture" category. Below, is our 36" x 36" board which was entered into the competition.

The design, which was part historical renovation and part interior design, can be found in Oklahoma City's famous Bricktown. The unique use of wood, natural day-lighting and material palette made this a very unique project.

Venture would like to send a special thanks Timberlake Construction, the developer and preservation folks, everyone on the Venture Team, and to everyone else involved with this wonderful project! We realize that this was a huge collaborative effort and there are plenty of people we are leaving out. We are very grateful for the effort put forth by everyone. Hopefully, this is only the first of many design awards!

Venture and Studio Urban Wax

2011-10-28T16:36:00.000-06:00

Venture Architecture is proud to announce our new partnership with Studio Urban Wax, Jeff Mason of Rare Space Brokerage, and Jason Myslik of Topos Properties.

Studio Urban Wax is a sleek and modern Salon currently located in Denver's historic Baker neighborhood. They will be moving to a new location and have chose Venture to design the new studio!

With Jeff Mason's knowledge of commercial real estate representation and Jason Myslik's project managment experience, this is sure to be a great project.

Venture Architecture is very excited about our partnership with these three groups and look forward to the road ahead!

To learn more about Studio Urban Wax, or set up an appointment, click here.

To learn more about Jeff Mason and Rare Space Brokerage, click here.

To learn more about Jason Myslik and Topos Properties, click here.

Keep visiting our blog to follow the project!

Denver's Emerging Solar Industry

2011-10-17T15:32:00.001-06:00

Even with the collapse of Solyndra, the solar industry is still booming across the United States. While most sectors in the economy grew only .7% from August 2010 to August 2011, the solar industry grew a whopping 6.8% and added over 6,700 jobs. (Data: here) In 2009, the solar industry employed roughly 50,000 Americans. Today, that number exceeds 100,000. Recent advances in the solar industry have lowered production costs and have made photovoltaic or PV panels more efficient, and the relative cost per watt is decreasing on a daily basis. This is occurring while China is inundating the market with extremely cheap panels as they attempt to take over the solar market.

     Recently, the city of Denver announced the arrival of a GE photovoltaic manufacturing plant. The plant is expected to add over 355 full-time jobs and is expected to double in size over the next five years, thus adding even more jobs. These figures do not include the construction jobs to build the plant nor any other subsidiary benefit or job the new plant will create.The plant will ultimately produce enough thin-film cadmium telluride panels to power 80,000 homes annually and once completed, the GE plant will be the largest solar manufacturing facility in the United States.

     The fact that GE picked Colorado for its new factory is no coincidence. The company recently acquired the solar start-up company PrimeStar Solar based out of Colorado. Our state is on the forefront of green technologies and with the help of NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab) PrimeStar was able to test their new thin-film technologies and create a marketable product. Now, with the backing of a large, very profitable corporation, these solar panels will be made available to thousands of consumers at extremely competitive prices. Our Governor, John Hickenlooper, along with other city officials, aggressively pursued the GE plant and were ultimately successful in furthering Colorado's increasingly prestigious green technology sector. (More info here)

     Here at Venture, we are not directly involved with the solar industry, but the future of architecture will inevitably be linked with green technologies. For example, new residential construction will focus on solar orientation and minimizing heat-gain during the summer months while maximizing heat-gain during the winter. Currently, these considerations are disregarded due to the power of mechanical systems and the low cost of electricity. As costs increase, these large systems will become much less desirable. A simple design consideration, such as solar orientation, will cut down the size of mechanical systems and save vast amounts of energy and money. Proper solar orientation can also include surfaces that maximize the use of PV panels. This can lower the cost of installation while allowing the panels to receive that most amount of daylight available. Reversing the trend of larger house sizes will also be paramount, and may already occurring (See our previous blog post here about average house sizes, and here about how houses will become smaller.) Obviously, smaller homes require less energy to heat and cool, thus lowering peak electricity demand.

   As an architecture firm, Venture will continue to grow and evolve as technologies change. Lets hope that the addition of GE will bring more investment and green technology companies to Denver. We here at Venture welcome the new addition to Denver's economy and look forward to the future of our profession.

Friday Fun

2011-10-07T16:44:00.001-06:00

Remember LEGO? The tiny plastic pieces that fit together? Well, it turns out that LEGO Architecture is not that uncommon.

The most famous LEGO architect has to be Adam Reed Tucker. Originally a normal architect, Tucker has now focused his time into making scaled LEGO models of some of the world's most famous buildings. The Empire State Building, Burj Dubai, St. Louis Arch, and even the World Trade Center are all included in Tucker's LEGO portfolio. These are not small models either:

Photo credit: http://www.brickstructures.com/ArchBurjDubai.html

Tucker is now involved directly with LEGO and makes these models available for consumers. For just $89.99 Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water can sit on your kitchen table for everyone to admire.

With a little more searching you can find a bit more news regarding LEGO architecture. Back in April, the world's tallest LEGO structure was built in Brasil. The city of Sao Paulo banded together to build a 102'-3" tall LEGO tower. Yes.... 102 FEET! The tower used over 500,000 pieces, involved local schools and required a crane to build. The top swayed pretty substantially, but the tower stayed up long enough to break the record previously held by Chile.

Not to be outdone, a self described "toy fanatic" decided to build an entire house made out of LEGO.

Photo Credit

Yes, it is a habitable house along with plumbing and even LEGO doors.

Nice Door Detail

Photo Credit

The owner, James May, used a light-timber frame to support the heavy LEGO walls. Each wall was made out of large LEGO bricks, made out of... small LEGO pieces. In fact, each large brick contained 227 smaller LEGO pieces. The two floor house used almost 3 million bricks or 817 million pieces altogether.

LEGO bricks made out of... LEGO bricks

Photo Credit

The house even had LEGO windows and an assuredly uncomfortable LEGO bed.

The low transparency prevented thermal heat gain and views.

Photo Credit

The LEGO Bed.

Photo Credit

Sadly, May did not file the appropriate permits and was forced to sell his structure. LEGOland was originally interested, but the transportation costs were too much and the building was ultimate destroyed/disassembled.

Photo Credit

Fortunately, the millions of LEGO pieces were donated to charity and may inspire another generation of LEGO homes.

I for one, would have loved to tour May's LEGO house. Growing up, I played countless hours with LEGO and tried to visit LEGOland last year in Denmark (when I was 26). Sadly, I did not have enough time. Let's hope that this fun side of architecture continues!

Congratulations to Jeanne Gang!

2011-09-20T15:48:00.000-06:00

Last year this blog profiled recent work by Studio Gang so it was with particular delight to hear this morning that the firm's founder, Jeanne Gang, was honored with a MacArthur grant for 2011. The so-call "genius grant" is an unrestricted award of $500,000 to individuals who have shown remarkable talent and self-directed vision in their chosen field. For more information on the MacArthur Foundation and this year's fellows visit www.macfound.org.

Adaptive Re-use

2011-09-09T11:13:00.002-06:00

Today, while doing my daily search for all things architectural, I encountered an interesting project in California. The 747 Wing House, designed by David Hertz Architects, uses airplane wings to span the large open interior spaces to create fantastic mountain views. Instead of finding old-growth timber, or shopping the steel yards for new I-beams, the architect instead purchased an entire 747. The cockpit windows were turned into skylights, the cabin deck was used for the guest house roof, and then of course there are the wings,

Image Credit: http://www.archdaily.com/165172/747-wing-house-david-hertz-architects/web-12/

By selecting the plane, Hertz also re-used material that used substaintial resources and energy to produce. Also, a 747 is able to withstand the extreme conditions experienced at 40,000 feet so the weather of California should not be too much of a problem. Expect this house to last a long time.

Image Credit: http://www.archdaily.com/165172/747-wing-house-david-hertz-architects/web-3-2/

This lead to more internet searching and I encountered many different types of adaptive re-use. There is the common product re-use like the 747 House, but with a much more ubiquitous material.

Image Credit: http://www.archdaily.com/127570/container-guest-house-poteet-architects/21-container-guest-house_credit-chris-cooper/

The shipping container structure has been a common theme recently and the possible outcomes of these little structures are amazing. For example, a mass housing crisis, like the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, or Japanese tsunami, could be alleviated by shipping thousands of prefabricated container houses to the afflicted areas.

Image Credit: http://www.archdaily.com/127570/container-guest-house-poteet-architects/6-container-guest-house_credit-chris-cooper/

There is also historic re-use, or a project that takes a run-down or just generally old building and re-purposes the structure. Personally, this may be my favorite type of project as there are ample opportunities to display the historic significance of the building while simultaneously creating new spaces within. The Musée de l'Orangerie is a wonderful example.

Image Credit: http://www.worldtoptop.com/musee-de-lorangerie/

Originally a "hot-house" for orange trees, the building was used by French royalty during the mid-19th century. The building went into disarray during and after the French Revolution but was re-purposed by Claude Monet to house his famous "Les Nymphéas" paintings. Recently, the structure was again renovated to add additional gallery space and to better protect Monet's paintings from harmful UV light. The building itself is built with classical proportions and columns, but once inside exhibits a simple contemporary style. In plan, the galleries resemble lily pads and almost literally float within the building as they hang over the new gallery spaces.

Image Credit: http://www.worldtoptop.com/musee-de-lorangerie/

Another historic example is The Mint, a project by FJMT in Sydney, Australia. Originally the Mint Coining Factory, the building was re-purposed to be the headquarters for the Historic Houses Trust. Contemporary buildings and additions were inserted into the old, crumbling structure. Within the building are great old v. new details.

Image Credit: http://www.archdaily.com/59430/the-mint-fjmt/mint_john-gollings_fjmt_09/

Image Credit: http://www.archdaily.com/59430/the-mint-fjmt/mint_john-gollings_fjmt_11/

The projects above show the other side of architecture that is not as widely publicized, but can obviously be just as great, if not better, than brand new buildings. Here at Venture, we recently completed an adaptive re-use project for Harding & Shelton in Oklahoma City. Located in historic "Brick Town" the offices make use of an old, abandoned brick building.

Before

After

By exposing the existing brick walls and decorative concrete columns, keeping the large punched out windows, and repairing the brick exterior, the building maintains its historic character while creating a unique work environment. The exterior remains similar to its neighbors and will fit in nicely as Oklahoma City continues re-developing Brick Town. The Harding & Shelton project has been entered into two design competitions. Stay tuned to see how we fared!

Learn more at www.venturearchitecture.com

How many miles does your lettuce have?

2011-09-02T11:32:00.001-06:00

How many miles does your lettuce have? How about your cucumbers, peppers or tomatoes? These may seem like odd questions, but with gas prices rising and world oil production peaking, they are more relevant than ever. Here in Denver, where we typically see 12-15in of precipitation in a year, most of the produce we see can come from thousands of miles away.

English cucumbers from Mexico? Irony aside, the answer is "yes."

Brightfarms, a new company based out of New York City, may have the solution. Specializing in greenhouses, Brightfarms hopes to bring locally grown produce to your local grocery store rooftop . The above ground greenhouses, which could be the size of your local supermarket, will produce all of the staple vegetables you would find in your local store without using any extra land. Lettuce, bell peppers, hot peppers, cucumber, tomatoes, varieties of leafy greens, and multitudes of herbs are all included. The produce is completely organic, can be grown year-round, and will use 95% less water compared with a standard farm. The vegetables will also remain fresher for longer as they do not have to endure vast shipping distances. This will all be done without turning on a fossil-fuel powered engine and therefore, prices will not be tied to world-wide oil prices.

photo credit: http://www.ediblemanhattan.com/topics/food-dining/hyper-local-produce-this-manhattan-company-wants-supermarkets-to-raise-on-the-roof/

Sounds great right? It gets even better...

Brightfarms also aims to build their greenhouses on large-scale housing projects. For example, their Forest Houses garden has added a 10,000 square foot greenhouse to the top of a low-income housing project. The greenhouse uses leftover heat from the building and collected rainwater to sustain the produce and will provide the annual vegetable needs for over 4500 people. For many low income neighborhoods, especially this one in the South Bronx, high produce prices leaves many without their daily vegetable needs. This project aims to fix this situation by providing fresh and affordable produce to thousands.

photo credit: http://www.good.is/post/new-company-brings-produce-from-the-roof-to-the-supermarket-aisle/

While they are definitely not the only answer to stabilizing food prices, Brightfarms has created a wonderful business plan and will surely help thousands of people eat healthier. Lets hope the idea catches on and rooftop greenhouses become more common. Then, when you ask yourself "how many miles does this lettuce have?"

... you can answer "ZERO!"

For additional information check out www.brightfarms.com

Check out Venture Architecture's website here

3rd Annual Architecture + Design Film Series

2011-09-01T11:37:00.000-06:00

Brothers and sisters in design, try and find some time in your busy schedules this fall for the 3rd Annual Architecture + Design Film Series at the Denver Film Center. The series will run September 8th to October 1st, showing 9 different documentary films on Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons at the Center's relatively new digs on Colfax. Single show tickets are available or series passes can be purchased at the Denver Film Society website. In light of the recent controversy over the Harmon Hotel in Las Vegas, one film that may be of particular interest is "How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?" showing on opening night.

I walked The High Line park and all my office got was this stupid blog post.

2011-08-22T14:12:00.002-06:00

While walking The High Line in Manhattan, one of my strolling companions said she was shocked to discover the cost to construct the park. Most sources cite it at about $172 million dollars, with $130 million coming from the city of New York and another $20 million from federal sources. The non-profit Friends of the High Line organization raised an additional $44 million dollars and still encourages supporters of the park to become members or donate to fund its upkeep. The yearly maintenance of the park is estimated at $4.5 million, with $1 million of that coming from the city and the remainder to be contributed by the the Friends of the High Line. Indeed, we saw a swarm of employees or volunteers cleaning the walkway and tending to the plantings. Another in our group criticized the Chelsea neighborhood adjacent to The High Line as "bourge-tasia," only to later admit that, yes, he would love to have one of the stylish modern lofts hovering over the park.

Say what you like about the cost to build and maintain the park, the gentrifying effect on the neighborhood, the tripping danger of the elegantly raised curbs in the walkway design, or perhaps even incoherence in the plan. So far the park has generated $2 billion in private investment, attracting major architectural talent like Jean Nouvel. An added 2.5 million square feet of condominiums, hotels and office buildings are in the planning stages and that investment number is expected to double. The park is also expected to bring in $900 million in tax revenues.

Good design really is good business. Or as we say at Venture Architecture, "Smart design. Successful venture." The High Line would not be so successful if there were not something uniquely compelling in the design created by Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Of the over 4 million visitors to the park, only 30% of them are tourists. Over 150 public events have taken place or are planned for 2011 and 14 works of art have been installed on the park. Ultimately, The High Line has encouraged visitors and neighbors of the park

to interact with their

environment in a new way

...and isn't that worth something?

Sarah Size, Still Life With Landscape (Model for a Habitat)

The Best of Denver

2011-08-19T14:42:00.000-06:00

Visiting Denver any time soon? Do you happen to be crazy about architecture? Well you are in luck, the Front Range (Denver/Boulder area) has a wide variety of houses, offices and museums of architectural interest. The link below will give you the names and locations of a dozen of these buildings.

http://www.archdaily.com/119839/architecture-city-guide-denver/

Notably absent from the list is I.M. Pei's NCAR facility in Boulder. This iconic building is visible almost anywhere within the city and the views from the top are fantastic. Follow Table Mesa west and after leaving the neighborhoods, NCAR will be visible to your left. The structure goes in and out of view as the road winds 1000+ feet up the mountainside. If you are up for a challenge, cycling up to NCAR provides and different way to experience the building and you will be treated to a very fun descent!

Charles Haertling was also left off ArchDaily's list. This prolific architect designed mostly in Boulder, but his buildings can be found hidden throughout the region. Maybe his most unique project, the "Mushroom House," can be found in North Boulder. This small house looks like a patch of mushrooms and would be suitable for any Smurf family.

Don't forget to wander the streets of Denver (our headquarters). There are hundreds, if not thousands, of old Victorian homes spread throughout the city. Capitol Hill is a great walking neighborhood where is seems every other building is on Denver's Historic Preservation List. Plus, the weather is usually fantastic!

Golden High School

2011-08-17T13:09:00.001-06:00

Here is a nice project located in nearby Golden, CO. There aren't many high schools with better scenery!

http://www.archdaily.com/157626/golden-high-school-nac-architecture/#more-157626

Good news for real estate in Denver

2011-08-12T12:06:00.000-06:00

A recent report from Integrated Asset Services revealed that while the median single-family house price in the metro area around Denver declined compared to the same period in 2010, "it was up 1.8 percent from the first quarter of this year." Within the city of Denver itself the report showed a spike in prices "both year over year and between quarters." This is especially remarkable in light of statistics from the Colorado Division of Housing showing that foreclosure filings in Colorado declined in the second quarter, dropping almost 30 percent from the same period in 2010.

Ikea: the tower defense game

2011-08-11T16:19:00.000-06:00

Ikea just arrived in Denver with much fanfare and singing of choirs. (Our Senior Project Manager actually knows of a woman who serenaded the grand opening with her Swedish choir.) In honor of this mixed blessing, here's a recent post from apartmenttherapy.com.

The Mental Break Between Architect and User

2011-08-02T16:32:00.000-06:00

Explaining your architecture to anyone outside the bubble of architecture can be frustrating when you realize that others - including the users of the space - may not necessarily share an equivalent appreciation for or understanding of your space. Metropolis Magazine conducted a post-occupancy study of Coop Himmelblau's Central Los Angeles High School No. 9 by distributing questionnaires to the students and teachers who use the space every day. While some biting remarks of the high school students can be disregarded as typical adolescent behavior, some answers can certainly help architects understand how and why an everyday user may see their space in a positive or negative light.

These types of performance studies are often overlooked and seldom conducted today. "Yet, as the profession drifts further and further away from economic sustainability (or relevance), they may be a key to finding the way back Toward a New Architecture". Click here to read more on this article.

At Venture Architecture, we strive to eliminate this metal gap between architect and user. Our mission is to create a space that is not only beautiful and enjoyable, but also functional and cost-effective for our valuable clients.

Landscape Architecture Installation - Aires Libres

2011-07-25T16:39:00.000-06:00

You don't always need four walls and a roof to create "architecture", as proven by Claude Cormier through his landscape architecture installation designed for the summer-long Aires Libres festival in Montreal. Cormier artfully suspended 170,000 pink balls from the trees and buildings lining the festival street to create the "roof" surface of this 1.2 km-long space. The layering, density, and intertwinement of the "artificial pink foliage" creates varied feelings of openness and enclosure as the light filters through.

Check out more photos here.

Average Home Size Comparison

2011-07-20T11:29:00.000-06:00

The following Joseph Albers-esque graphic from CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, shows average home sizes built between 2003 and 2006. The website apartmenttherapy converted square meters to square feet:

US: 2,300sf
Australia: 2,217sf
Denmark: 1,475sf
France: 1,216sf
Spain: 1,044sf
Ireland: 947sf
UK: 818sf

It's worth noting that the Asian world is absent from this survey.

Venture Architecture has designed homes for residential clients on both ends of the size spectrum. Whatever our clients' space and budget needs, we focus on designing a space they can live with and love for years to come.

AIA's Barbie Dream House Design Competition

2011-07-19T13:41:00.000-06:00

It's true. The American Institute of Architects has teamed up with Mattel to design Barbie's new - and quite sustainable - dream house in Malibu. After receiving nearly 30 submissions from AIA-certified architects, the competition jury has narrowed it down to five lucky finalists. You can help choose Barbie's chic new pad and vote for your favorite design here.
This may be the first and the last time you see architectural plans and sections presented in hot pink!

Bradford Gilbert & the first American skyscraper

2011-07-18T11:29:00.000-06:00

We here at Venture Architecture celebrate the round pegs in the square holes. Over the weekend I listened to this wonderful podcast from The Memory Palace by Nate DiMeo. It's a beautiful piece of storytelling and I think it typifies the indomitable inventiveness of the American spirit and it's something we aspire to in our office in every project we do.

The Memory Palace produces weird and wonderful slices of American history in podcast form. Apparently this episode was commissioned by 99% Invisible, "a tiny radio show about design, architecture & the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world," from KALW in San Francisco.

Advances in photovoltaics

2011-07-15T14:40:00.000-06:00

There's no doubt that glazing is a mixed blessing for all buildings. Windows bring in needed daylighting but have poor insulating qualities. It's always a balancing act when attempting to earn green points with a building design. A recent forum at the McGraw-Hill Construction website explored many aspects of this very issue.

Applying solar panels to the roofs or even exterior walls of buildings as facades and curtain walls is nothing new. Using transparent photovoltaic glass in skylights brings a whole new level to Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). This triple laminated glass claims to allow daylight through while repelling the UV and infrared rays that cause interior space to heat up, all while generating 52 kWh per square meter a year. One of the more remarkable applications of this technology the skylight designed by Onyx Solar at the San Anton Market in Madrid. Naturally, innovations like this could be of great benefit in Denver where we receive 300 days of sunshine a year.

Denver is Green

2011-07-01T15:53:00.000-06:00

According to both The Denver Business Journal and The Denver Post, Denver was ranked the 5th greenest major city in the US and Canada. How did we get this status? From the b-cycle program, to changing energy consumption habits to building sustainable buildings. All facets of the community have come together to make this a great city to live and work in.

Colorado Foreclosures Down in May

2011-06-16T10:33:00.000-06:00

A Denver Business Journal article citing figures from RealtyTrac shows that foreclosure filings in Colorado are down 13.5%. In fact, foreclosure rates around the country appear to be dropping with the largest decreases in Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. This is particularly remarkable when considering the agressive development in Florida during the housing bubble.

Enough said...except perhaps...yippee!

Venture Turned 5!

2011-06-15T09:13:00.002-06:00

Venture Turned 5-

At the beginning of June Venture turned 5! Thank you to all of our wonderful clients, colleagues and friends who have been so supportive and given us such amazing projects to work on. We look forward to serving all of you for many more years to come!

Time out for fun in architecture.

2011-05-13T14:54:00.003-06:00

When an architect couple I know recently bought a house they rated each structure on "zombie defensibility." I imagine my friend kneeling on the porch roof of her Denver Square in her Tsubo boots, sighting the approaching undead through her oblong-framed glasses, and pumping them full of lead with a sawed off. Evaluating the zombie defensibility of our drinking companions' abodes is a favorite happy hour pastime. A compact Tudor revival with narrow second story windows: excellent! A rambling Craftsman bungalow with mother in-law apartment: "Dude, they'd be in your basement before you'd know it."

Enter the so-called "Zombie Proof House" or "Safe House" by Polish firm KWK Promes. It is replete with drawbridge, concrete slab shutters, and a steel roll up door protecting a modern expanse of glazing.

All kidding aside there is little doubt that environmental conditions influence the shape and function of the environments architects design. A March 2011 article from Architectural Record examined using design for both water management and as an integral element in structures. The devastation of Katrina has show that mechanical and structural means alone cannot protect coastal cities from rising sea levels. A Dutch firm aptly named Waterstudio has designed "watervillas" in Utrecht and a floating prison docked near Amsterdam. Their latest project of 60 half floating, half anchored residential buildings will be complete next year in the Netherlands.

As destructive as urban flooding can be, living and working near bodies of water improves quality of life for people nearby. Venture Architecture has designed projects in Oklahoma City and Pueblo, Colorado integrating those city's canal systems as design elements.

As these projects illustrate, firms like Venture who practice smart design strategies, can offer protection from the most extreme situations inside spaces with immensely beautiful design aesthetics.

On virtual architecture...

2011-05-05T16:13:00.000-06:00

Here in the office we have been discussing recently about how 3-D rendering software has made it easier to communicate our designs to both clients and contractors. In the past it may have been necessary to build foam core models to test lighting conditions, spatial relationships, or visual horizons.

This recent editorial on the Architectural Record website shows that some people are considering the new digital fabrication to be a substitute for experiencing architecture in person. Most of us experience buildings from the exterior and never have the opportunity to move through soaring volumes or intimate spaces. I am on the Record's website weekly flipping through slide shows, comparing photos to plan view. As the editorial states there is no substitute for experiencing a building in person and the way it effects our senses: the somber cool interior of the Taj Mahal's mausoleum or the disorienting angles of the staircase at Liebskind's Denver Art Museum.

Our clients appreciate the added information standing virtually in their new space affords them. While the construction process is always relatively fluid, now there can be little misunderstanding of how the finished space should look. Perhaps eventually we will just give 3-D renderings directly to contractors. With the advent of the iPad, the Venture Architecture portfolio is literally in our back pocket, or here, at your fingertips.

Housing markets in Denver look optimistic.

2011-04-28T12:57:00.001-06:00

It's spring time in Denver and every day on my way to work I see signs that the warmer weather is encouraging construction. Whether home and business owners are improving existing structures or building from the ground up, there are pockets of regeneration around the city and that spells great news for our brothers and sisters in the design, property, and construction industries. This personal observation was further reinforced by articles in The Economist and The Denver Business Journal.

The Economist reports that Colorado's unemployment rate is below the national rate and Denver experienced modest a modest increase in housing values, avoiding the bubble. The Denver Business Journal covered a survey from The Apartment Association of Metro Denver that shows the apartment vacancy rate continues to fall 6.5%. These two trends may indicate that Colorado residents are becoming more interested in not only buying houses or property and improving them immediately for use.

Recent inquiries to our office confirm this to be true and our team here at Venture Architecture will use this space to keep you informed of new developments.

eWise transfers headquarters from Australia to Denver

2011-04-25T08:45:00.000-06:00

An article in the Denver Post announced that our client eWise has moved their corporate headquarters to Denver. Venture Architecture was hired this winter to design their 7500 square foot office space in the Denver Tech Center. It is now nearing completion and we will be photographing the space later on this week. Stay tuned...

Venture is hired to design loft at One Lincoln Park

2011-02-15T14:30:00.036-07:00

Venture has been selected to design a penthouse loft in the One Lincoln Park building, one of the most exciting additions to the Denver skyline in recent years.

Even though the loft is 3300 square feet of raw space, transforming it into a showpiece residence has a unique set of design challenges. Integral to the plan are incorporating the expansive views of downtown Denver and the Front Range mountains and also a 1500 square foot balcony. The kitchen will feature a Pedini kitchen and European appliances. Venture Architecture looks forward to creating a warm and inviting contemporary residence that is also a refuge from urban life.

Venture Architecture welcomes Alexandra Fortier

2011-01-29T13:53:00.036-07:00

In the Venture office we have been busy with several new projects for the new year. Even in when work is plentiful the decision to add another collaborator to the comfortable balance of talents already available in the office is a difficult one. Alexandra Fortier has proven herself to be a valuable contributor to the Venture team. Alexandra was born and raised in Aspen and earned a Bachelor's of Environmental Design, majoring in Architecture from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her portfolio demonstrated a passion for architecture and design in both the residential and commercial environments as well as excellent skills as draftsman. We look forward to creating the kind of detail-oriented work Venture Architecture is know for with Alexandra Fortier for many years to come!

eWise hires Venture Architecture

2010-12-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

Venture Architecture will be designing over 6000 square feet of new office space for eWise in the heart of the Denver Tech Center. eWise provides online solutions for payment processing, financial management, and identity verification. With offices in the UK, USA, China and Australia, eWise has a reputation for developing innovative technology solutions that make transacting online easier and more secure. We look forward to making their venture in the Denver Tech Center successful with a smart design!

New Venture project at the Colorado Center Annex

2010-12-21T15:57:00.004-07:00

Venture Architecture has been retained by Lincoln Properties to assist by designing approximately 15,000 sf of spec office suites at the Colorado Center Annex. Keep up with this blog to see how the designs progress. Contact Mark Homlish at 303.893.1886 for any interest in these excellent office spaces.

More progress at the Harding & Shelton offices.

2010-11-22T15:41:00.001-07:00

In this video Jason Dunnington, Communications Director Harding & Shelton walks us through the progress at the office including new double glazed operable windows to match the historical facade.

GreenSource highlights the work of Studio Gang

2010-11-09T12:07:00.009-07:00

Recently, the GreenSource magazine website has posted several videos on the work of Studio Gang.

One video is an excerpt from the Checkerboard Film Foundation's film on Chicago's Aqua Tower, completed in 2009. In it, Jeanne Gang, the founder of the architecture firm, discusses the process for constructing the unique residential skyscraper.

The other video depicts the construction of the South Pond Education Pavilion in Chicago's Lincoln Park. This remarkable structure is matched in its filming by Spirit of Space.

Time for a field trip to Chicago!

Progress at Harding and Shelton offices.

2010-11-03T11:30:00.001-06:00

The brick has been tuck pointed, the windows are in, and every day more finish materials are arriving on site. As promised, we reveal more progress at the Harding and Shelton offices in Oklahoma City. This is an exciting time to be at the job site when work is steady and the finished space begins to take shape. We are expecting a December move in date.

Green Depot interactive store in Brooklyn.

2010-10-14T12:20:00.001-06:00

The Green Depot store in Brooklyn was recently featured on GreenSource magazine's video section. Colin Brice of Mapos gives a tour of many innovations created to educate consumers about how the products sold there function and impact or improve the environment. Of particular interest is the light booth where customers can compare different low energy lighting options and how light temperature effects materials samples. Also, in the flooring area different products were installed underfoot to approximate real use situations.

3form Materials

2010-10-12T11:20:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it's the perfect material that inspires and pulls together a design. When Venture Architecture was commissioned recently to design an intimate and interactive space, our stash of 3form samples was pulled out of storage. They evoke a feeling at once both old and new: somewhere between a fly caught in amber and a futuristic evening dress.

The 3form website showcases some surprising applications including exterior cladding, library shelves, and even healthcare interiors.

Harding & Shelton offices under construction.

2010-10-08T09:09:00.000-06:00

The details are coming together in the corporate offices for a 30-year-old oil and gas company currently under construction in Oklahoma City. The offices are in an adaptive, mixed-use building in a historic district featuring great canal and downtown views. One of the many challenges of this project was preserving the character of the original building while providing the client with an impressive modern and functional space. In this video Venture Architecture partner Melissa Goldstein showcases some of the innovations our firm developed for the space.

Venture selected as architect for Aegis Business Services

2010-10-05T10:27:00.004-06:00

Venture Architecture is excited to design a new space for Aegis Business Services as they relocate to the Dry Creek Corporate Center. We are working closely with the CEO and COO to fine tune the design. It must balance the needs of both their executive staff as well as their professional teams who have helped grow the business into a success story.

Architecture firms building more inclusive names

2010-09-30T10:03:00.019-06:00

An article yesterday in the New York Times announced a name change for the 50-year-old firm Polshek Partnership to Ennead, which means a group of nine deities in Egyptian mythology. The article noted that the trend in architecture is to move away from names credited to the principals of a firm and toward a collective representation of all the ideas that go into designing a building. At Venture Architecture, where the best idea wins and each of us feels compelled to make the work we do great, we applaud this movement. We know that smart design is often a nexus of many elements.

Building Skin: First impression and functional beauty

2010-09-23T11:48:00.003-06:00

In recent years, several existing Denver buildings in tight infill spaces have been given new exterior skins. One project of note designed by Gensler is the Pura Vida Spa building in Cherry Creek which formerly housed the Tattered Cover in a nondescript stucco low rise. Many architects around the country are exploring options "outside the (building) box" in both existing and new construction. The Gehry Partners' Beekman Tower recently profiled in Architectural Record and located in Lower Manhattan is a standard skyscraper shape made amazing with curving steel curtain walls. Jean Nouvel's 100 Eleventh Avenue, also in Manhattan, used tilted fixed and operable windows for their hybrid curtain wall that seems to shimmer on the skyline. Far from being simply eccentric, these buildings are attractive, highly functional and, as with the second skin on this remodeled home featured on the GreenSource website, can provide passive energy saving features.

Xcel Energy offers rebates on LED lighting

2010-09-21T10:47:00.000-06:00

Recently Xcel Energy announced rebates for businesses looking to install LED, or light emitting diode, lighting for both retrofit and new construction applications. There is a separate program for small businesses. According to Xcel, up to 44% of a business utility bill is allocated to lighting and with an LED bulb using up to 3% of the energy of a standard incandescent and lasting about 66 times longer, the savings could be substantial. The rebate applications are very long and only certain manufacturers and models will qualify; however, this program seems like a great step forward in greater acceptance of more efficient lighting.

Luxury apartments planned for LoHi neighborhood

2010-09-16T10:03:00.001-06:00

A recent article at the Inside Real Estate New website reported that a new luxury apartment low rise is being built at 17th and Central. The building is across the street from the Highland pedestrian bridge linking downtown to the LoHi neighborhood. Ground floor retail space and 3500 square feet of office will further emphasize neighborhood walkability and density. The apartments are aimed at a higher-income renter in an area where few rental options are available. At a time when most downtown rentals are experiencing nearly 100 percent occupancies, the project is expected to be a great success.

Venture Pitches Rec Center to City of Pueblo

2010-07-21T16:59:00.001-06:00

The Pueblo Chieftain ran a front page article yesterday on Venture Architecture's presentation to the Pueblo City Council on Monday night. At the City Council work session, Venture partner and architect, Martin Goldstein presented a video that showed the warehouse at 205 N. Elizabeth St. in Pueblo transformed into a modern recreational facility housing aquatics, fitness, and multi-use court/in-door field areas.

Please take a look at some of our images of the potential future rec center, and read the Chieftain article, "Downtown Rec Center Pitched to Council".

B's Ballpark Museum in LoDo Opens

2010-07-16T15:22:00.005-06:00

B's Ballpark Museum is officially open! Next time you are in LoDo or going to a game at Coors Field, stop by 1940 Blake St. and see what Smithsonian Books calls, "one of the top 21 private baseball collections in the World." B's Ballpark Museum

Venture Architecture re-designed an existing retail level condo in an 110 year-old warehouse in Denver's LoDo Historic District for B's Ballpark Museum. The space integrates a museum with a major collection of baseball park memorabilia and a new office suite for an accounting firm.

First Comprehensive Zoning Overhaul Passed by City Council

2010-06-25T09:19:00.001-06:00

Of the 60 or so citizens that showed up on Monday to speak for or against the new Denver City Zoning Code, those "for" and "against" were pretty evenly split. The first Zoning Code overhaul since 1956 addresses issues such as disallowing multiplexes and duplexes in some neighborhoods. It steers the City toward more growth and density along transit routes and established neighborhoods. Check out this Denver Post article to learn more.

Featured Green Product: Flotender Grey Water Systems

2010-06-15T10:16:00.000-06:00

Flotender Grey Water Systems use a sophisticated filtration system to recycle water from your shower, bath, and washing machine. It's drip system waters your lawn and plants using recycled water, allowing for a 32% reduction in landscape water usage. Learn more about Flotender here: Flotender Grey Water Systems.

ISH Trade Convention Showcases Bathroom Design, Green HVAC Technology

2010-06-09T12:22:00.000-06:00

For anyone looking to further their knowledge of energy efficient heating and air-conditioning technology, renewable energy & bathroom design, and wanting to visit Frankfurt, Germany next year, consider the ISH Trade Convention on March 15-19, 2011. The ISH concept is based on the "optimum combination of water and energy". This trade conference has taken place for the past 50 years, and brings together over 2,400 manufacturers from all over the world to present new products and forward thinking solutions. For more information, visit the ISH 2011 website.

Denver Awaits the History Colorado Center

2010-06-02T17:09:00.000-06:00

The Colorado History Museum closed its doors at the end of March, but construction on the new History Colorado Center has been underway since August of last year. The new 200,000 sf building in the Civic Center / Golden Triangle District of downtown Denver is scheduled to open in late 2011.

According to this August, 2009 press release, "Its architecture will evoke Colorado’s spirit: beautiful surroundings, diverse peoples and unique places. Its natural, native colors will reflect the vibrancy of the western landscape and its interior elements will include many open spaces using Colorado materials.

The History Colorado Center, along with the new Ralph L. Carr Justice Complex, will be financed with the help of $338 million in Certificates of Participation, making it one of the nations largest Build America Bond projects. Financing the two projects together will save over $200 million.

Rare Space Commercial Broker Shares Success Story

2010-05-11T11:01:00.001-06:00

Denver commercial broker, Tanner Mason is featured in this Denver Business Journal article. Mason got his start in commercial real estate in 2001, when the market was also experiencing a low. Mason relates how, through hard work and building relationships, he gained success in the industry. Mason is a partner and broker with Rare Space, Inc.

Commercial Real Estate Market Looking Up

2010-04-22T16:13:00.000-06:00

According to this Denver Business Journal article, Metro Denver's commercial real estate market made a cautious but optimistic come back in the 1st quarter of 2010. The market for office space has continued to improve steadily, with the average asking rate for rent only slightly lower than this time last year.

Landmark Preservation Commission Member Speaks On “The Preservation and Rehabilitation of Iraqi City Centers” Conference in Baghdad

2010-04-20T10:14:00.000-06:00

Jeremy Wells, a Denver Historic District / Landmark Preservation architect will speak at the Webb Building at 201 W. Colfax, room 4.F.6. at noon on Monday, April 26th. He will be showing video and audio from his recent trip to Iraq and discussing his participation in the conference, "The Preservation and Rehabilitation of Iraqi City Centers" and its relevance to Denver. This NY Times article provides more background on the six-day conference in Iraq, which was attended by 75 architects and city planners from the U.S. and other nations.

Venture Architecture Joins ExecConnect

2010-04-15T11:20:00.001-06:00

Venture Architecture is proud to announce its membership in ExecConnect. ExecConnect is an exclusive Denver-based group comprised of community leaders and business owners from the private, non-profit, and public sectors. To learn more visit the ExecConnect website. ExecConnect is allied with Denver Bike Share, a new program that addresses transportation in downtown Denver.

Doors Open Denver - April 17th & 18th

2010-04-08T11:35:00.000-06:00

Doors Open Denver is an "annual celebration of Denver's built environment and design". The two-day event is April 17th and 18th, and allows participants to take unguided or free guided walking tours of many of Denver's building, some of which are not typically open to the public. This year's theme is "Denver Redux / Redo: Buildings with a Second Life". The Event Headquarters are located at Union Station.

Check out the Doors Open Denver website for more information.

Architectural Record's 2010 Record Houses

2010-04-06T10:42:00.000-06:00

Architectural Record's 2010 Record Houses were chosen on a criteria of, "simplicity, modesty, and sustainability, in keeping with today’s culture of restraint." Check out the 7 finalists at Architectural Record's website.

Union Station: Preserving the Historic, Transforming Downtown

2010-03-25T16:06:00.001-06:00

Publicized as, "the centerpiece of a new age of connectivity in the region", Union Station in downtown Denver will undergo an exciting mix of historic preservation and redevelopment over next several years. The Union Station Neighborhood Co. website, www.unionstationdenver.com, showcases some amazing architectural renderings of "the vision", and includes a section on "the details" and "the timeline".

Plans for development to the existing site include the addition of open air courtyards for dining and relaxing, and a train hall that will accommodate up to 10,000 people in an hour. The train hall, an arched structure with a transparent canopy, is designed to allow the historical station to, "remain the focal point of Union Station Neighborhood with the train hall complimenting...but not overshadowing it.". Stay connected to this ongoing project by visiting www.denverunionstation.org.

Sweets Network Features Green Products

2010-03-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

The Sweets Network, which features green building and design products, recommends Rockwood Manufacturing's stainless steel door pulls and hardware. Rockwood products are made from 75% post-industrial waste, are 100% recyclable, and can be refinished to their original appearance at any time to eliminate hardware replacement. We have been interested in using Rockwood for one of our current projects, corporate offices for a 30 year-old oil and gas company in an historic building. Check out more green products at Sweets.com.

Sustainable & Innovative Aqua Tower Adds to Chicago Skyline

2010-02-23T11:00:00.002-07:00

The Aqua Tower, a new 82-story building in Chicago's downtown, was featured on the January/February cover of Greensource Magagzine. Designed by Jeanne Gang, along with Magellan Development Group, this residential and hotel tower is making headlines for both its sustainability and its innovation. Sustainable practices were incorporated throughout the building process, and design features such as a 3rd-story podium park, a public electric car charging station in the underground garage, and curving balconies which shield sunlight, have made the tower eligible for LEED status. The Aqua Tower, shows an innovative design in that both the footprint and the floorplans of the interior spaces remain rectilinear, unlike its predecessors, Bertrand Goldberg's twin cylinders of Marina City. The curved exterior is achieved through the swerving concrete balconies. Check out the photo gallery and article in Greensource.

Three Concepts for 16th Street Mall Re-design

2010-02-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Downtown Denver Partnership has released three concepts for the re-design of the 16th Street Mall in Denver. The concepts can be seen here: "Current Urban Design Plan Details". You can stay up to date on the 16th Street Mall improvements at the "16th Street Plan" website. As a member of the Downtown Denver Partnership, Venture Architecture will keep our blog updated as the design and improvements to the 16th Street Mall progress.

Hickenlooper: 'Community Investment Good for Business'

2010-02-16T14:23:00.001-07:00

"Strategic community investment ultimately is good for business", says Mayor John Hickenlooper in this video found on our client, dovetail solutions' website. The Mayor mentions Exec Connect, a local group comprised of leaders from the private, non-profit, and public sectors, as an example of how partnering with the community leads to both personal and professional rewards. Exec Connect has recently allied with Denver Bike Share to work towards the goal of "changing the culture of transportation in Denver". Click here to learn more about Exec Connect.

Denver Home Prices Up

2010-02-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

According to the Denver Post article, "Metro Home Prices Soar in January", home prices in the Denver Metro area are up 16% from one year ago. This indicator of the economy's growing confidence and recovery are good to see. Here at Venture, we are staying busy with two new project so far in 2010!

Venture Designs New Qwest Building in Pueblo

2010-02-04T09:45:00.001-07:00

Venture has teamed up with Qwest to provide "ground-up" design services for a new 10,000 sf building in Pueblo. We worked with brokers, Coldwell Banker and Grub Ellis to secure the project. Our design package includes an architectural site layout and coordination with civil and landscape engineers, core and shell design, pricing coordination with the general contractor, selection of interior finishes, and permit and construction documentation. Our design is currently being reviewed by the City of Pueblo. Check back soon for updates on this exciting project!

Venture Website Has New Project Pages

2010-01-28T10:33:00.001-07:00

Visit the Venture Architecture website to see some of our recent work: Venture Architecture Project Pages. We are very excited to share these projects with you!

B's Ballpark Museum

2010-01-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest photos from B's Ballpark Museum! Venture Architecture re-designed an existing retail level condo in an 110 year-old warehouse in Denver's LoDo Historic District. The space integrates a museum with a major collection of baseball park memorabilia and a new office suite for an accounting firm. Stop by to see the Museum at 1940 Blake St. Check the B's Ballpark Museum website for info on the Museum's opening day!

New Denver Zoning Code Public Review Draft

2010-01-21T09:58:00.001-07:00

The final draft of Denver's new Zoning Code was released to the public this week. It can be found at www.NewCodeDenver.org. The Denver Planning Board will hold a public hearing on February 17th. Prior to the hearing, staff from Denver Community Planning and Development will hold "office hours" on February 9th from 3pm-5pm and February 11 from 11am-2pm at the Webb Municipal Building.

Dovetail Solutions Office Remodel Completed

2010-01-19T11:49:00.000-07:00

We are happy to share photos from the completed tenant improvements for Dovetail Solutions offices. Dovetail Solutions is an amazing PR firm with offices in Denver's LoDo Historic District. Venture Architecture was hired to design tenant improvements including a new lighting scheme, and select interior finishes such as paint, carpet, and millwork.

Welcome to Our Newest Client, Alpha Sleep

2010-01-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to begin working with Alpha Sleep, our newest client. Currently operating 4 locations in and around the Denver Metro area, Alpha Sleep is a diagnostic center that performs sleep studies to help people with sleeping disorders. Visit the Alpha Sleep website at: www.alphasleep.com. We would like to thank Alpha Sleep for choosing Venture Architecture!

Kansas Rebuilding Green

2010-01-06T11:10:00.001-07:00

Greensource magazine showcases a Studio 804 home built in tornado-ravaged Greensburg, Kansas in its November 2009 Best Green Houses. The rectilinear design, which resembles a barn, along with the absence of northern facing windows minimizes exposure to wind. The use of passive-design techniques, solar and wind energy implements that will produce more energy than the home uses, and use of locally reclaimed building materials will make it the first LEED-for-homes project in the Kansas City Metro area.

Botanical Interests HQ Remodel / Addition Photos

2009-12-17T09:33:00.002-07:00

Venture Architecture worked with Broomfield-based seed company, Botanical Interests, to design new office space and remodel their existing offices. Here are photos from their open house showing the finished product!

Denver Faring Well in Region Hit Hardest by Recession

2009-12-15T09:17:00.002-07:00

As the nation rebuilds after last year's economic collapse, Denver comes out on top in comparison to other Mountain Metros. In a study reported in the Denver Post, the mountain states look to be the hardest hit region in the U.S. But take a look at the chart at the bottom of this article, "Six Mountain States, including Colorado, hardest hit in U.S. by recession". The extreme economic downfall of cities like Las Vegas, NV and Phoenix, AZ bring the regional average down, while Denver makes out well above the national average in both categories, the housing price index and unemployment rate.

Public Meeting for 16th Street Mall Urban Design Plan Today

2009-12-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

Today, December 9, from 5:30-7pm at the Colorado Historical Museum Auditorium, the first of three scheduled public meetings will take place. This will be a chance for the public to give input that will used in the urban design recommendations as part of the "16th Street Mall Plan", which was initiated in 2008. The first phase of the "Plan" will examine infrastructure issues, such as deterioration of the 25-year old pavers that line the street of the Mall.

Construction Begins on B's Baseball Museum in LoDo

2009-12-04T11:57:00.001-07:00

This week, construction began on B's Baseball Museum in LoDo. Venture designed the museum space that will house Bruce Hellerstein, CPA's amazing collection of Old Stadium Architectural Fabric. His collection includes a perfectly preserved window from Forbes Field's main entrance, an original section of the Fenway's Green Monster Backstop, as well as countless stadium seats, turnstiles, all star game banners, and more. B's Baseball Museum is located just a few doors down from the Southeast Entrance to Coors Field. Please check back soon to see photos as construction progresses.

Process Streamlined for Redevelopment of Urban Brown-fields

2009-12-01T11:47:00.002-07:00

The November 2009 Architectural Record article, "Is Brown the New Green?", discusses how three urban brown-fields are being redeveloped into research-oriented mixed-use communities. In the post-industrial American city, brown-fields are tracts of urban land that have been contaminated and left abandoned or underutilized. The upside of this type of site is the central location- in proximity to transportation, workforce, and in the case of these projects, proximity to universities or hospitals. Challenges that have traditionally been associated with the redevelopment of brown-fields, such as cleanup costs, have been lessened as the process becomes streamlined. Developers have become more familiar with the process, the regulatory framework is in place, and subsidies have become more available as the public benefits of these projects are recognized. Take a look at these successful projects at MIT, Wake Forest University, and Seattle suburb, South Lake Union.

Construction Wraps Up at Botanical Interests

2009-11-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Construction at the Botanical Interests headquarters in Broomfield wrapped up last week. Check back for photos of the finished office remodel and addition, coming soon!

Even the Best Make Mistakes...

2009-11-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

... but at Venture Architecture, details matter. We address them all, one at a time, and together as a comprehensive design and construction team.

Here's an article from the Architectural Record that looks at the ongoing repairs that have been underway at the Denver Art Museum since the roof began leaking just 3 weeks after Daniel Libeskind's $110 million addition was opened in 2006: "Leaky Libeskind Roof to be Fixed at Last".

Denver Architect, Roland Wilson

2009-11-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

Venture Architecture started with a business model much like Denver architect, Roland Wilson's. Wilson, who passed away last month at the age of 83, "bought land, brought in investors, designed the building, and often retained part ownership", according to this Denver Post article: "Early Denver apartment Designer...". Wilson, who designed an incredible 6,000 units in his lifetime, was one of the first architects in Denver to offer amenities such as indoor pools and game rooms, which are now common in multi-story apartment buildings. He will be remembered for his innovation as a developer, and by the mark he left on Denver's skyline.

Solar Jobs, Investment Dollars Coming to Denver in 2010

2009-11-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

According to this Denver Business Journal article, "SMA Solar plant to bring hundreds of jobs to Denver", the world's largest manufacturer of a key component of solar power generation has chosen Denver as the location for its first U.S. plant. The German based company, SMA Solar Technology, will invest $22.3 million in the project and create up to 700 long-term jobs. Mayor Hickenlooper credits Governor Ritter and his branding of Colorado as the "New Energy Economy" for the influx of solar jobs.

Denver Home Prices on the Rise

2009-10-30T09:01:00.000-06:00

This recent article from the Denver Business Journal says Denver home prices in August returned to where they were one year ago: "Denver home prices rise for 6th straight month". The article ranks Denver 2nd in a study of 20 cities that tracked home price decline over the past year.

Venture Founder Featured in Denver Business Journal's Power Book

2009-10-28T10:02:00.002-06:00

Venture Architecture and founder, Martin Goldstein, were featured in the Denver Business Journal's 2009 Power Book, published on October 23rd. The Denver Business Journal made 10 selections from 14 industry categories. The selections made were all business leaders who deserve recognition for their accomplishments over the past year, despite the challenging economic climate.

The Venture Architecture entry states, "Goldstein's collaborative and creative approach to architecture has enabled him to complete large-scale commercial and government projects; smaller, high-end remodels; and historic renovations." Martin's recent mayoral appointment to the Landmark Preservation Commission is also mentioned. Click here to read the entire Power Book entry.

Featured Product: BP Glass Garage Doors and Entry Systems

2009-10-21T15:21:00.001-06:00

We like this new product by BP: Glass garage doors and entry systems. The manufacturer uses 100% recycled glass, aluminum and steel, and the manufacturing process itself is environmentally sustainable as well. The glass panels are fully insulated to reduce heat loss, and allow for maximum light transmission while maintaining privacy. These doors would work well in a restaurant or commercial setting to create the option of opening up space when needed. In a residential context, they offer a more modern approach to the traditional garage door.

Progress at Botanical Interests Headquarters

2009-10-13T16:09:00.000-06:00

Here's round 2 of construction photos for Botanical Interests headquarters. Make sure to check back to see how the office remodel and addition progresses.

Venture's Architectural Visualizations... Another Tool in Leasing Unfinished Space

2009-10-09T15:12:00.022-06:00

Venture created these architectural visualizations using our 3-D modeling software. Our client is using these as a tool to lease space in a building with unfinished interiors. These visualizations will allow the building owner to offer multiple options to potential tenants before starting construction on the building.

Conference Room 1

Conference Room 2

Waiting Room

Denver Tops the Nation

2009-10-06T12:18:00.001-06:00

Here are three articles from the Denver Business Journal that place Denver among the top cities in the Nation. We know that the Mile-High City is the best and we have the stats to prove it:
"Portfolio.com: Denver Hit Less Hard on Jobs Than Most Cities"
"Poll: Denver, Colorado Among Most Popular Places to Live"
"Daily Beast: Denver among America's Smartest Cities"

A Green Reinterpretation of Neo-Gothic Style

2009-10-02T11:42:00.000-06:00

We like the design of Yale University's greenest facility, Kroon Hall, which is featured in this month's GreenSource. This reinterpretation of the campus's neo-gothic architecture features sandstone cladding, a glue-laminated beam vaulted roof, and red oak paneling throughout the interior. Check out the image gallery to see more of this cool design. The article outlines the many ways in which this building is sustainable.

Neighborhood Redevelopment Project's Future Questionable

2009-09-30T11:22:00.002-06:00

Development company, Cherokee Denver recently had to give ownership of a 16-acre portion of the site known as the Gates Rubber Factory back to Gates, Corp. due to lack of financing to finish the extensive environmental cleanup that has been underway since 2001. Another portion of the site that was sold to Trammell Crow Residential has already seen the development of 475 apartments. The City of Denver, through the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, has pledged $85 million toward the project, which would create a "residential and retail hub designed around access to public transportation", according to this Denver Post article. Although no public money has been spent to-date, the City will be able to issue those funds if redevelopment continues during the next 25 years. The site is located several blocks west of the Venture office, and we hope to see continued redevelopment as the economy improves.

Seattle Firm Uses Old-School Technology, Innovation to Go Green

2009-09-24T16:58:00.000-06:00

This interesting article in GreenSource describes how Seattle-based architecture firm, Weber Thompson takes a "less-is-more" approach to sustainable design. The 40,000 sf Terry Thomas building was designed to, "operate efficiently without using a lot of expensive technology". It's central courtyard works with vents, controls, and window openings to channel warm air out and cool air into the building, making air conditioning unnecessary. Energy consumption was cut by 50% without the use of photovoltaic technology, and the building received LEED-Platinum (interiors) and LEED-Gold (core & shell) ratings. Check out the image gallery for a closer look at this impressive building.

Possible Extension for First-time Homebuyer Credit

2009-09-22T09:34:00.006-06:00

The $8,000 tax credit that has helped 1.4 million first-time homebuyers since it was put in place last year may be extended for an additional 6 months. The credit, which is set to expire on December 1, has helped to, "spark a rebound in the sluggish housing market", according to this Denver Business Journal article. The National Association of Realtors is supporting this tax credit extension.

Construction Underway at Botanical Interests HQ

2009-09-18T12:14:00.012-06:00

Check out the first round of construction photos from Botanical Interests HQ. Venture Architecture worked with the Broomfield-based seed company to design new office space and remodel their existing offices.

Companies Paying More to Lease LEED Office Space

2009-09-10T12:25:00.002-06:00

LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] buildings are being snapped up by commercial tenants willing to pay higher lease rates to live and work better in their office space-- and look good doing it. Check out this article in the Denver Post:
"Colorado Businesses Chasing a New 'Green'".

Good Design Sells

2009-09-04T12:02:00.030-06:00

This article, written by Venture founder, Martin Goldstein, was published in the 9/2/09 - 9/15/09 edition of the Colorado Real Estate Journal.

"Fighting the Real Estate Fight with Good Design"

One way to combat today’s real estate troubles is to pay more attention to the details during the design process. It’s easy to become consumed with the business of real estate, but now is the time for owners, project managers, and owner representatives to invest additional time and attention into the design process. While the design itself cannot solve a real estate inventory glut, a well-designed project, and one that is well thought through, will lease or sell faster and will in the long run improve the value of the property.
In my years practicing architecture, interior design, and development, I have seen that the right design, led by the right design team can make or break the value of a project.

What defines a well designed project? Good design has little to do with budget size or project type. Simply put, good design is the effective use of innovative design principles, judicious application of available materials, the utilization of existing building or site conditions, and the selection of the right design team. If these decisions are approached in a smart, strategic manner at the very beginning, the project will make efficient use of its assets and effectively minimizes its inherent liabilities.

Although budget can affect choices, it should not affect the quality and integrity of the design. Ultimately, a quality finished project should be one that functions well for the end user. All of a project’s spaces should flow well and be sized properly and according to function. Details such as ceiling heights, room width, and millwork depth, are the small things that ultimately enhance the quality of the final product. So too are the materials. Granite or stainless steel may be cost prohibitive, but there are many design friendly solutions that can satisfy budget. If the final product is a space that is easy to navigate, reasonably easy to maintain, communicates the right feel or mood, and was built within cost parameters, it can be considered to be a successful design.

The key to a good design begins with the strategic selection of a design team. The right design team is one that understands that the most crucial step in the design process is communication. In the beginning of a project, communication is critical to effective collection of the information that will drive the design. It is also key throughout the entire design process, to ensure that the team is designing the product that the client wants and needs.

By starting a project with clear, open communication, the entire design and construction team is best positioned to identify and create the most ideal space possible, one detail at a time. It affords the opportunity for every individual and company involved, including the construction team, to look for innovations that will overcome project constraints and craft the best space for the client’s needs. It fosters sharing of ideas and is the strongest way for the client to make smart design decisions. If the design team leads the project in these ways, it stands the highest chance of success.

Selecting the right construction team is just as essential as hiring the right design firm. They are critical to achieving the best design. Their craftsmanship, attention to budget, and accurate understanding of the project are crucial to developing a quality-finished product. Team oriented contractors, open to working in concert with the design team will ensure that the project is created properly and effectively.

For those who participate in the real estate process, it’s important to remember that, with the exception of a project’s location, no other single factor has more impact on the value of a property than the quality of the design. In these times, when a project is led by smart design decisions that focus on fostering great team oriented communication, finding innovative solutions, and paying attention to details, it instantly becomes more valuable. If you build it well, they will come.

Remodel in Denver's Pennsylvania Historic District Complete

2009-09-03T11:53:00.000-06:00

Substantial completion has been achieved on the excellent and extensive remodel of a 6,000 sf single family Victorian residence in Denver's Pennsylvania Historic District. The Levin Family took residence on Tuesday, September 1st. Be sure to click on the 1040 Pennsylvania blog, "This Abused House" . It captures the ups and downs of their experience throughout the remodel process. The owner had a strong vision and deep commitment to this project that led the design and construction teams. Look for photos in the coming months on our blog and soon to be updated "Projects" section of Venture's website portfolio.

Dovetail Solutions Begins Construction This Month

2009-09-01T11:38:00.004-06:00

Dovetail Solutions, Inc. is slated to begin construction on Thursday, September 10. This amazing PR firm with a unique focus on corporate, public, and non-profit partnerships will see a complete remodel over the coming weeks. Responsible for countless PR and political campaigns, Dovetail Solutions, Inc. is a highly talented group ideally located in an historic building at the southwest end of LoDo's Larimer Street Shopping District. We are honored and excited to support this firm and its remodel project.

www.dovetailsolutions.com

Improvements Planned for 14th Street Mall

2009-08-27T10:47:00.006-06:00

14th Street Mall? Anyone who frequents, lives in, or works in the downtown area probably knows that 14th street has a very different feel than the 16th Street Mall. The city is currently reviewing ways to improve the pedestrian feel, human scale, and overall experience of 14th Street... this article provides an overview update of the news from 14th Street.

"Coming Soon: 14th Street Mall?"

Youtube video of the future 14th St.

Venture Teams Up With B's Baseball Museum in LoDo

2009-08-25T08:40:00.006-06:00

Venture Architecture is honored to have been selected by Rare Space and Hellerstein CPA Practice to be the architect of record on B's Baseball Museum. Listed by the Smithsonian Institute as one of the 21 best collectors of baseball memorabilia of all time, Bruce Hellerstein has an amazing collection of Old Stadium Architectural Fabric. His collection includes a perfectly preserved window from Forbes Field's main entrance, an original section of the Fenway's Green Monster Backstop, as well as countless stadium seats, turnstiles, all star game banners, and more. B's Baseball Museum is located just a few doors down from the Southeast Entrance to Coors Field. We'll keep you posted about the Grand Opening date for this amazing LoDo project, or check the website:
B's Baseball Museum

Recognizing Student-Built Mod.Fab. Housing

2009-08-20T15:23:00.007-06:00

We like the clean, modernist design aesthetic of GreenSource magazine's July 2009 "Best Green House". The house was built by students of Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in Scottsdale, AZ. Taliesin Dean, Victor Sidy, describes the school's philosophy as based on Frank Lloyd Wright's "constant inquiry of the relationship between man and nature.”

The 600 square foot, 13 foot-wide "Mod.Fab." house incorporates modern style with the goal of minimal impact on natural surroundings. The steel-chassis structure is designed for mass-production. However, unlike the typical pre-fabricated home, this house utilizes photovoltaic solar technology and a roof designed to channel rainwater to a cistern, as well as Wolf/Subzero appliances and Milgard sliding glass doors for a feeling of compact luxury.

Venture Digs Deep to Uncover Value of "Green" Products

2009-08-18T12:49:00.012-06:00

Venture strives to embrace "green" products and technology, but as this article, "The Freaky Math of Plug In Hybrids", shows, it pays to look closely at the real value behind every product we use. Awareness is key when evaluating "green" options. If a project calls for cost-effectiveness to take a backseat to environmentally friendly options, we look for data that proves the value of the "green" products we offer our clients.

As Predicted...

2009-08-10T08:28:00.006-06:00

Denver and Colorado continues to outpace the nation in "year to year losses" for residential real estate prices. It was also the smallest decrease since 2007. As the data comes in, it appears that at least the slide over the economic edge may be over... and as predicted, the Rocky Mountain West is ahead of the nation. "Report: Colorado, Denver outperform nation on home-resale prices"