Flash 8 Required

Spruce Street Center

Boulder, CO

OZ designed this 3award winning 90-car parking facility located one-half block North of downtown Boulder's Pearl Street Mall. The primary architectural goal was to insert a six-level parking structure into an established block of predominantly two-story buildings in Boulder's Historic District, while minimizing pedestrian views of the parking facility and encouraging use of the retail facilities. To accomplish this within the one-third block site, an open air, single-helix structure was created. It was depressed 1-1/2 levels into the ground and pushed into the interior of the site. The parking structure was then "wrapped" on the two street sides with a narrow two-level commercial structure that screens its mass. This design not only brings the facility into scale and context with the established character of the downtown area, but also maintains the activity and interest level in this pedestrian street environment. The parking structure is constructed of panelized brick and precast concrete with metal grillage in the large openings. The stairs and elevators are steel with glass and open-air elements placed around the perimeter to promote maximum visibility for user security. The two-story commercial "wrap" is steel with brick veneer, and utilizes traditional elements of a storefront building in terms of scale, proportions, and components, but treats them in a contemporary manner. As part of the project, the adjacent alley is improved as a pedestrian way and is utilized as a connector to the Pearl Street Mall.

SERVICES PROVIDED

Architecture
Entitlements & Rezoning
Urban Design & Planning

AWARDS

1997 - Silver Jubilee Design & Preservation Awards, Historic Boulder
1994 - AIA Merit Award, Colorado Chapter
1991 - AIA Honor Award, Colorado North Chapter
1990 - Engineering Excellence Award, Consulting Engineers of Colorado
1990 - American Concrete Institute Award of Excellence for Most Oustanding Concrete Structure
1989 - Historic Boulder Award