Join us for an exclusive ULI tour showcasing Northern Colorado, the fastest-growing region in the state, where a remarkable story of job creation and population growth unfolds. This dynamic region offers a blueprint for intentional regional design, connecting thriving municipalities through innovative planning and collaboration. Explore master-planned, mixed-use communities that reflect a commitment to smart growth and sustainable development. Experience firsthand how Northern Colorado is fostering economic vitality while preserving its unique character and enhancing quality of life. The tour includes mixed-use communities around I-25 and Highway 34 with a stop at Scheels, the first location of its kind in Colorado, setting a standard for retail and entertainment in the region; Colorado State University’s Powerhouse Energy Campus, a state-of-the-art facility at the forefront of clean energy research and innovation, where technology and sustainable solutions are shaping the future; the site named Fourth Best Square in America by USA Today, where culture, commerce, and community intersect in a vibrant public space; and one of Northern Colorado’s iconic breweries, showcasing the region’s vibrant craft beer culture. Discover how intentional regional planning and forward-thinking initiatives are driving Northern Colorado’s success, creating opportunities for talent, innovation, and meaningful connections across municipalities.

Join us on a tour through Denver’s RiNo Art District, one of Denver’s most sought-after neighborhoods that serves as a hub for cultural diversity and creative innovation. Two significant projects by global real estate investment manager, Hines—Mica RiNo and T3 RiNo—are redefining the future of this vibrant neighborhood.

Mica RiNo, located in the heart of North Wynkoop’s expansive 1.25-million-square-foot mixed-use development, exemplifies urban living with its contemporary design and luxury offerings. Unparalleled amenities include a resort-style pool deck, yoga lawn, outdoor games, garden seating with fire pits, and an eleventh-floor sky lounge with panoramic views of downtown Denver and the Rocky Mountains.

Explore T3 RiNo, a groundbreaking six-story, 235,000-square-foot office building that features a refined industrial, heavy-timber-structured design. Situated in the River North Art District, this space captures the essence of Denver’s creative heartbeat. Paying homage to the city’s historic brick and timber buildings, T3 RiNo timber design is 100 percent renewable and one of the most sustainable in Denver.

Bordered by the State Capitol, the City and County Building, and the Denver Art Museum, Civic Center Park is the centerpiece of Denver’s green space. With structures over 100 years old, the park blooms with 25,000 square feet of flower beds each summer and serves as a frequent event site year-round. As Denver’s first National Historic Landmark, Civic Center Park’s future is just as important as its past. The Civic Center Next 100 plan will catalyze new activity and animate this park in the heart of Denver. The transformation of four key areas will fulfill past community-driven planning visions and elevate the landmark for the next 100 years by providing new energy, world-class performances, and events.

This tour also visits nearby Populus, an energetic new social center in downtown Denver with both private and public spaces. The unique style of the hotel is informed by Denver’s aspen trees and its design supports its sustainability and efficiency. The windows are detailed to perform efficiently in the Denver climate, and on the exterior, the “lids” of each window stretch outward to shade the interior, while also channeling rainwater. Deepening the building’s commitment to sustainability, Populus promotes density downtown by activating the entirety of its compact, triangular footprint. The concrete structure minimizes cement by incorporating fly ash and forgoes any levels dedicated to parking—a first for a new building downtown—encouraging visitors toward greener modes of transport. With a green roof providing an attractive habitat for local wildlife and insects, Populus aims to reconnect city dwellers with nature in the heart of Denver.

Originally a medical depot for the U.S. Army during World War II, York Street Yards has been transformed into a thriving center for innovation and creativity. The preservation of this brick and timber project, guided by a deep respect for the site’s rich heritage, preserves the architectural integrity of the original buildings while infusing them with modern amenities for today’s tenants. These once-utilitarian warehouses have been reimagined as flexible workspaces, fostering a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators.

In 2011, Denver nearly lost its legacy Stock Show. The National Western Stock Show organization was exploring other options after outgrowing its outdated facilities. In 2012, Denver came up with a plan not only to keep it but also to transform the 250-acre site into so much more. Five major partners—the City of Denver, Colorado State University, The National Western Stock Show, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and History Colorado—worked with the public to create a new master plan. In 2015, the citizens of Denver approved funding of nearly $1 billion to transform the site with 2.2 million square feet of new facilities as the future home for a convergence of food and agriculture innovation, education, and entertainment in the National Western Center.

Union Station is a Denver icon. Opened in 1881, it held the distinction of being the tallest building in the West in its day. The Station reached its zenith in the mid-1940s, welcoming more than 50,000 visitors daily, but with the waning popularity of train travel in the latter half of the 20th century, the Station gradually fell into disuse.

In 2001, efforts began in earnest to reimagine the once-great landmark. The historic Denver Union Station would become the centerpiece of a shopping, dining, and cultural destination—part of a grand vision to revitalize 14 city blocks featuring offices, apartments, restaurants, stores, condominiums, hotels, and entertainment.

The scope of the project included three primary components:

• Transit: A joint venture of East West Partners and Continuum Partners, this project was planned and financed with additional partnership of the City of Denver, RTD, the state, and Trammell Crow. A $480 million multimodal transit station is now the hub of Denver’s rail and bus system; it features incredible new public spaces and is the impetus of an urban migration that’s drawing young singles, families, and retirees back to the city’s core.
• Private development: Several parcels of the station land were redeveloped, including two 100,000-square-foot companion office buildings that frame the historic building on the new kinetic plaza; the Triangle Building, a modern, mixed-use office and retail tower; 16 Chestnut, a 430,000-square-foot office building; and The Coloradan, Union Station Neighborhood’s only for-sale, residential high-rise, among others.
• Renovation of the historic station as the crown jewel of the community: Preservation and adaptive use of the historic station reached their highest form to maintain the neighborhood’s storied history. The Union Station Alliance continues to put love and care into Denver’s living history. Inspired by the journey, Denver Union Station has nearly completed an extensive refresh that honors its position as a thriving transit hub and downtown cultural destination.

Today, the entire Union Station Neighborhood works as a powerful economic engine for the city and the region, generating $3.8 billion in initial impact in 2014 and an additional $2.9 billion of impact on an ongoing basis. Come learn about the development of Denver’s iconic Union Station as a transportation hub, retail center, and hospitality location as it continues to serve visitors and locals from around the world.

Just minutes from downtown Denver, Cherry Creek North is a destination in itself, with 16 blocks of walkable streets lined with independent boutiques, celebrated restaurants, and an array of hotels and residences. A robust business district is also woven into the fabric of this thriving district and has positioned itself as one of the top markets in the United States—outperforming most downtowns and suburban office parks across the country over the past five years. Crossing 1st Avenue, the landscape shifts as Cherry Creek West takes shape—a vision that deepens the neighborhood’s relationship with Cherry Creek.

Cherry Creek West has been designed for people first. It will be a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood where everything you need is a 15-minute walk or bike ride away. The $1.5-billion development will be built in two phases. It is located at 1st and University on 13 acres and will feature seven buildings–three are anticipated to be office (600,000 square feet) and four for-rent multifamily buildings (around 825 units in total). There will be restaurants and services on the ground floors of the buildings and four acres of public space, including a large park and market square. Here, urban living meets sustainability, with new residences, offices, and retail spaces thoughtfully envisioned to integrate with four acres of open space and its prominent neighbor, Cherry Creek Mall.

Sun Valley, a central neighborhood in the metro Denver region, is home to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. Today, 94 percent of the neighborhood’s housing market is subsidized, with only 5 percent of the homes occupied by their owners. Additionally, over 80 percent of the population is living below the poverty line. Sun Valley residents represent over 33 different cultural backgrounds, speak more than 28 languages, and 25 percent identify as first-generation immigrants, 4 percent as second-generation immigrants, and 20 percent as refugees. In Sun Valley, Denver Housing Authority is poised to create a new model of community transformation with equity, environmental justice, and public health as its driving forces.

In addition to housing developments, the Sun Valley Riverfront Park is a planned 11-acre regional park running the length of the South Platte River. Developed in response to the priority health issues in the neighborhood, the park creates a safe space that celebrates the diversity of the neighborhood, promotes physical activity and healthy eating, provides spaces for mental restoration, and ensures all Sun Valley residents have access to quality open space.

Since its founding in 1984, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) has worked to serve people experiencing homelessness through housing, health care, and supportive services. One of the most significant struggles for CCH clients has been the difficulty in maintaining health following release from hospitals and other facilities, safely recovering from recent medical or clinical procedures, and other recovery needs that cannot be safely met in shelters or on the streets. The new John Parvensky Stout Street Recuperative Care Center (JPSSRCC) exponentially increases the Coalition’s ability to serve these clients.

The facility treats clients with a variety of needs, including healing from postsurgical procedures, wound care, respiratory or heart issues, oxygen needs, chemotherapy treatment, and more. In addition to medical assistance for acute conditions, clients are provided with the opportunity to receive care onsite and ongoing integrated health care at the adjacent Stout Street Health Center including behavioral health support, pharmacy access, substance use treatment, peer support, and job training. Clients also can work with integrated case managers and housing counseling staff to identify long-term housing options, thereby providing them the opportunity to successfully transition out of homelessness to a long-term residence upon discharge.

The interior design of the building was selected through a trauma-informed process, and donated art warms the space. The Coalition believes that energy efficiency and environmentally friendly construction should be the standard for affordable housing. The building is designed and constructed to meet or exceed Enterprise Green Communities guidelines. These standards deliver greater energy and water efficiencies, better indoor air quality and space use that will be sustainable over time—ultimately resulting in lower utility costs. Architectural services for the mixed-use project, which is designed as attractively as market-rate housing in the Arapahoe Square neighborhood, were provided by Christopher Carvell Architects, and construction was provided by Milender White.

Colorado Springs lies an hour south of Denver amid some of Colorado’s most breathtaking natural landscapes. Visit the recently completed United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum (designed by Diller Scorfidio + Renfro)—one of the most accessible museums in the world. Then visit Weidner Field (a 10,000-seat urban stadium home to the United Soccer League Champion Colorado Springs Switchbacks) to learn about urban stadium development in mid-market cities. Lastly, tour current urban renewal and downtown development authority areas (residential and commercial) and the creative district to understand the local efforts and tools used to create public/private partnership redevelopment opportunities.

Fitzsimons Innovation Community is a sprawling 184-acre site at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado—a leading-edge laboratory workspace where innovative health and life sciences companies of all sizes take their research to the next level to cure diseases, save lives, and improve care. Standing on the grounds that once held the Fitzsimons Army Hospital, where soldiers returning from World War I were treated, the Campus Center includes new and redeveloped lab office, residential, retail, and The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club—all connected by dynamic public open spaces. These projects are part of a larger multiphase strategic vision plan led by Tryba in coordination with the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, the City of Aurora, and the University of Colorado that will unite the city’s diverse edges into an integrated urban neighborhood, complete with a diversity of living options, compelling retail and lifestyle amenities, trail networks, and a regional mobility hub.

A neighborhood that has not yet fulfilled its promise, the Golden Triangle is poised to become the vibrant, mixed-use downtown neighborhood it has always aspired to be. Already home to some of Denver’s most important cultural assets and institutions, recent significant real estate transactions, a zoning code rewrite, and the Downtown Denver Partnership–led 5280 Trail are set to transform the landscape with an inundation of food, beverage, and retail opportunities; new public spaces; and improved connections to surrounding neighborhoods.

Explore Denver’s most dynamic new area of growth and development along the South Platte River. Hop on a bike and take a seven-mile ride on a flat, protected bike path with many stops along the way. Visit RiNo Park, the first green space in Denver’s River North area, which historically has been home to manufacturing industry and artists. The park will feature two repurposed buildings, activated by the River North Art District. Ride south to Confluence Park, Denver’s origin in 1858 at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, which has been transformed into a kayak run, several new urban residential developments, all immediately across from REI’s Colorado flagship store. The final leg of the tour rides through the future sites of over 20 million square feet of urban mixed-use developments, the River Mile, the Stadium District, Denver’s own Meow Wolf, and Steam. 

Denver’s Lower Downtown (LoDo) Historic District is home to some of the most innovative approaches to historic downtown development. This tour visits McGregor Square, which offers office and retail space, dining, and events near Coors Field. Dairy Block is a historic block, once home to Windsor Dairy and now a vibrant micro-district that boasts 11 shops, 19 restaurants, eight bars, a luxury coworking space, and a 172-room hotel. Market Station offers residences in the heart of LoDo, as well as office and retail space.

See one of the most creative adaptive reuse projects in Denver! Pancratia Hall is a four-story, red brick, collegiate gothic style building constructed between 1929 and 1930, originally designed by master architect Harry W.J. Edbrooke for Loretto Heights College. Transformed into a 74-unit affordable multifamily project in one of the most creative adaptive reuse projects in Denver, Pancratia Hall provides affordable housing in southwest Denver. It offers a unique example of how historic buildings can not only be preserved but transformed to address the urgent issues facing real estate development today, where history, design, and function are all preserved to create a one-of-a-kind environment.

Spread across an entire city block, Clara Brown Commons includes an impressive offering of 61 apartments, 17 townhomes, and inviting communal areas for shared experiences. Nestled at the intersection of 37th Avenue and York Street in northeast Denver, the location offers unrivaled proximity to essential amenities, convenient transit options, reputable schools, and a plethora of engaging activities. Each residence is dedicated to providing enduring affordability for individuals with incomes below the area median income, and an on-site team actively fosters a dynamic community experience, uniting residents, volunteers, and caring neighbors to nurture a lively communal atmosphere day in and day out. Clara Brown Commons offers a comprehensive approach to affordable housing.

Located in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood and inspired by the legendary musician Charles Burrell, The Burrell offers luxury living at an affordable price. The Burrell offers 49 permanently affordable condos for one-, two-, and three-bedroom units in the heart of a vibrant Denver neighborhood with a rich cultural history unlike any other in the city. Known as the “Harlem of the West,” the Five Points neighborhood is a cultural hub with a rich and diverse history, with roots deeply intertwined with the African American community and the golden age of jazz. As a center for artistic expression, creativity, and resilience, the neighborhood’s history is reflected in The Burrel.

At the heart of downtown Denver, Larimer Square is where historic charm meets the vibrant energy of downtown. Named for pioneering General William Larimer, it was the city’s first block, first commercial district, first designated historic district, and home to its first residence and city hall. Now, preservation and restoration efforts maintain its heritage architecture and streetscape while honoring Denver’s pioneering spirit to set the stage for Larimer Square’s future.

This tour also visits Auraria Campus to learn about its impact on the area. Auraria is home to three institutions: Community College Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the University of Colorado Denver. Auraria’s master plan sets a vision for the campus’s physical environment—shaping goals, objectives, and design principles for its future growth and establishing a collaborative project-planning approach to improve campus space and meet its most urgent needs. This plan integrates Auraria into the city, further connecting the campus to downtown Denver through alignment with the 5280 Trail, the redevelopment of the Auraria Parkway, and more.

Located within Denver’s western central business district submarket, one of Denver’s fastest-growing neighborhoods, 1900 Lawrence is a class-A, 30-story office tower designed by Goettsch Partners. With views of the Front Range, Coors Field, and Skyline Park, 1900 Lawrence offers best-in-class amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, multi-use conference space, and a tenant lounge with outdoor terrace access. Easily accessible by car, bike, and foot traffic, 1900 Lawrence provides an example of the best in office space Denver has to offer.

Led by Brookfield Properties (formerly Forest City Stapleton) beginning in 2001, the redevelopment of the former Stapleton Airport site is close to completion. One of the largest urban neighborhood infill projects in the country and one of the highest-ROI neighborhoods in the city of Denver, the site is home to nearly 35,000 residents. See first-hand how the goals outlined in the original sustainability vision plan were manifested—or not—in the final development, and discuss key lessons learned. See how open space and drainage were major economic drivers and community form-givers across the 4,700-acre site. See how parks, greenways, and open space contribute to the unique resilience and sustainability performance of this community. Led by key players on the development and public realm design teams, this tour explores how public/private investment in parks, open space, and green infrastructure lead to higher real estate and community values.

For more than 60 years, the Downtown Denver Partnership has convened, collaborated, and led a bold vision to build an economically powerful center city. The Partnership believes providing venues for residents, workers, and visitors to gather, relax, and play in the public realm is a key component of fostering a balance between urban life and the outdoors and adding vitality to urban spaces. Over the years, the Partnership has led efforts to make Skyline Park accessible and inviting through activations including the Downtown Denver Ice Rink, the Skyline Beer Garden, Putt-Putt Golf, a dog park, and much more. Now, the Partnership is working alongside Denver Parks & Recreation on the Skyline Park Improvements Project to ensure that the public space serves the need of those who live, work, and play in the center city. Come learn about the future of the park that is at the heart of downtown Denver!

The TAXI II redevelopment project transformed the site of a former taxi dispatch center within a light-industrial neighborhood along the South Platte River into a thriving, high-density, mixed-use community. Previously a landfill, the site was extremely flat, and traditional piped stormwater drainage around the new building would be costly. The new site strategy was a holistic approach that integrated the multiuse outdoor spaces with the site’s stormwater infrastructure to create flexible spaces that can be used for everyday leisure and events, and that encourages activity throughout the workday and evening. Stormwater gardens infiltrate runoff from buildings and paved areas to create native landscapes that reflect the South Platte River ecosystem. Curbless streets and painted stripes blur the lines between parking and pedestrian circulation to create safe, walkable streets and plaza areas. Recycled site materials, such as binblocks, were used to provide seating and control vehicle access while reflecting the neighborhood’s industrial context.

Since 1977, initially as the Solar Energy Research Institute and then elevated to national lab status by George W. Bush in 1991 as the National Renewable Energy Lab, NREL is the premier federal lab that advances the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies, and provides the knowledge to integrate and optimize energy systems. The lab’s Building Energy Science team focuses on early-stage research for building energy technologies, including advanced components and efficiency strategies for new buildings and retrofits. Come tour the Energy Systems Integration Facility and learn about NREL’s research on smarter and more-efficient buildings.