The Downtown Boulder Pedestrian Mall – often called the Crown Jewel of Boulder – is nationally recognized as a sterling example of innovative downtown revitalization. After one year of construction and three years of planning, design, and meetings, during which many political twists and turns nearly scuttled the project, the grand opening of the Pearl Street Mall was held on August 6, 1977.
Architect-of-Record Everett Zeigel (the “Z” in OZ), led the design team. Their assignment: to design a 3.2-acre pedestrian zone that would strengthen the beleaguered economic base of downtown while also improving the environmental quality of the dilapidated, historic commercial district. With most merchants in favor of the project, the city took bulldozers to four blocks of Pearl Street, paved it in traditional red brick for design continuity and historic character, planted trees, flowers, and evergreen groves, and redirected traffic to loop around the core area of the City.
After 25 years of success characterized by heavy pedestrian use, the Mall needed to be refreshed. Members of the original design team were re-assembled to create a new plan that would respect the original goals and design intent of the project. This plan included the addition of improved site lighting and signage features, identification pylons along Broadway and at the ends of the Mall, installation of a pop-jet fountain, the addition of a shade structure for outdoor performances and informal dining, and two new focus areas – a Boulder County map and a sculpted water feature.
Collaborating Partner: Communication Arts, Inc.
