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Curtain wall

One last curtain-wall building photo from downtown…

The famous Miesian Mile High Tower, part of the Mile High
Plaza designed 1956 by I.M. Pei and Henry Cobb. The plaza
is now incorporated into Philip Johnson’s Norwest Plaza.

July 27th, 2010 / 1 Comment » / by Tom Lundin

Posted in Downtown, International Style, Miesian, Skyscrapers | 1 Comment »

Western Federal Savings

Another Formalist high-rise with glass-curtain walls by Raymond
Harry Ervin, built 1962. Originally there were large “W”s on each
side of the rooftop box.

July 27th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin

Posted in Downtown, Formalist, Skyscrapers | No Comments »

First National Bank

One of Denver’s earlier skyscrapers, the Formalist First National
Bank Building.

Designed 1958 by Raymond Harry Ervin, the same architect who
designed the Art Deco Harry Huffman Mansion from the post
below.

July 26th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin

Posted in Downtown, Formalist, Skyscrapers | No Comments »

Jay Wieder Orchestra

This 1976 big band lp by the Jay Weider Orchestra gives us an opportunity to view
the historic Denver skyline. (You can click these photos to enlarge)

Here you can see some of the contributions of architects I.M. Pei, James Sudler (who co-designed the Denver Art Museum with Gio Ponti), Charles Strong (designer of Denver’s Art Deco Poet’s Row), Raymond Harry Ervin (note the original “W” on the Western Federal building) and Minoru Yamasaki (designer of NY’s World Trade Center twin towers).

Across the street from the Denver Public Library, you can see the construction site for the Colorado Judicial Building and the Colorado History Building, both currently being torn down.

Jay Wieder was a famous local orchestra leader who often played at the Trocadero Ballroom (Elitch Gardens) and the El Patio Ballroom (Lakeside Amusement Park). Wieder and his orchestra portrayed the Glenn Miller Orchestra in the 1953 film The Glenn Miller Story.

June 8th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin

Posted in Downtown, Music | No Comments »

Folded-plate McDonalds

It’s sad, but this folded-plate roof building on the 16th Street Mall is now gone.

McDonalds is still there, but nothing of this ’60s-era building remains.

May 20th, 2010 / 1 Comment » / by Tom Lundin

Posted in Downtown, International Style | 1 Comment »

Denver Court House screen

The sculptured screen on the Denver Court House.

I think the screen was designed by sculpter Edgar Britton (but I also remember
Denver architect Alan Gass mentioning that he had something to do with this).

The Denver Court House & Federal Building were designed 1965 by
James Sudler and Fisher & Davis.

May 20th, 2010 / 1 Comment » / by Tom Lundin

Posted in Downtown, Formalist, Sculpture | 1 Comment »

Sculptured relief

Aluminum sculptured relief above the entranceway of the First National Bank building.

The bank was designed 1957 by Raymond Harry Ervin and is now called 621 17th Street.

May 19th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin

Posted in Downtown, International Style, Sculpture | No Comments »

Rockmount Ranch Wear

Prarie-style building, designed 1909 as an early work by Denver architects Fisher & Fisher.

Prarie-style is usually used to describe homes built after the turn of the century by Chicago architects, mainly Frank Lloyd Wright. It is not commonly seen in use for commercial buildings.

Rockmount Ranch Wear took over the location way back in 1946, and remains one of the greatest western wear stores in the country. Pay the store a visit during Doors Open Denver coming up soon on April 17th and 18th.

April 8th, 2010 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin

Posted in Downtown, Prarie Style | No Comments »