Mirador at Tennyson: A Denver Landmark Reimagined

Before it became Mirador at Tennyson, the structure overlooking Willis Case Golf Course was the El Jebel Shrine. Built in 1930, it sat in northwest Denver for decades as a place people recognized, even if they had never been inside. It hosted events, gatherings, and community functions long before the Berkeley and Regis neighborhoods began changing the way they have in recent years.

When the property was redeveloped into housing, the idea was never to start over. The goal was to keep what made it recognizable and find a way to make it work for something new. Working with Confluence Companies, we helped convert the structure into 24 condominiums while keeping the exterior and the overall character of the original building. The project later received a Historic Denver Community Preservation Award for the renovation.

Because the building had originally been designed with large assembly spaces, the conversion came with some unusual challenges. The existing structure included tall ceilings, thick load-bearing walls, and the former auditorium volume at the center of the plan. Instead of working against those conditions, the design used them to create residences with generous proportions, open interior spaces, and rooftop decks with views toward the mountains, while also updating the building to meet modern energy and sustainability standards.

Projects like this do not come around very often. When a place has this kind of history and location, it’s always a pleasure to find a way to keep it part of the neighborhood.