Office buildings...
Mile High Center
Photos © 2011 Alan Golin Gass, FAIA
Today we have guest photographer Alan G. Gass (esteemed architect, historian and in my view, city hero) with some 1950s-era shots of I. M. Pei & Associates’ Mile High Center.
If you look closely at this first shot of the entranceway canopy on Broadway, you can see Mr. Gass himself in the reflection of the front door, taking this photo.
Many of the features shown in the photos, of this early important work of I. M. Pei, no longer exist, as many of the spaces were absorbed into the design of One United Bank Center (now Wells Fargo Center, the “Cash Register Building”).
In this shot you can see the canopy as it crosses through the fountains to connect to the restaurant and shops of the Transportation Building. Behind the plaza you can view some of the details of the remodeled bank building, which is the third building of Mile High Center design.
Viewing east toward the fountains, past the row of lights on the bank, this photo nicely depicts the interrelationship of all three buildings with the plaza.
And lastly, a shot of the concrete barrel-shaped roof of the Transportation Building. You can also see additional details of the bank building. This is the intersection of 17th and Lincoln, compare how different this looks today.
November 22nd, 2011 / 2 Comments » / by Alan G. Gass
Broadway & 17th
Broadway and 17th in downtown Denver, showing the contrasts of styles from different eras.
The sandstone Brown Palace from 1892, the International-style Mile High Tower from 1956,
and peeking over the top, the post-modern Wells Fargo Center skyscraper from 1984.
November 21st, 2011 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Republic Plaza
The Republic Plaza, designed 1983 by Donald Smith for
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The late-modern design now
stands out from decorative, contemporary styles.
Before the Republic Plaza, the Republic Building stood on
this site, designed in 1928 by G. Merideth Musick.
November 5th, 2011 / No Comments » / by Tom Lundin
Bel Mar Office Tower
Underappreciated Modernist circular office building in Lakewood, built 1970. Originally an insurance company building, this tower was built across the street from May Bonfil’s Belmar Mansion and the Villa Italia Mall, both now gone.
August 14th, 2010 / 1 Comment » / by Tom Lundin
