The long-awaited redevelopment of the Rock Drill site in north Denver just took a major step forward. On September 15, Denver City Council approved rezoning, the development agreement, and the creation of the Rock Drill Urban Redevelopment Area.
The news carries a long history. We remember when we first walked the Rock Drill site and began thinking about what it might become…more than 25 years ago!
Located near the edge of the RiNo Art District and the Cole neighborhood, the 7-acre campus was once home to the Denver Rock Drill Manufacturing Company. Many of the original brick factory buildings remain today, including the distinctive sawtooth-roof structures that have become a recognizable part of Denver’s industrial landscape.
Plans for the redevelopment will transform the largely vacant property into a mixed use district with housing, offices, retail, a hotel, and new public spaces that connect directly to the 39th Avenue Greenway. A number of the historic buildings will be preserved and integrated into the project, maintaining a strong connection to the site’s past while allowing new development to grow around it.
Craine Architecture has been working with Oliver Buchanan Group and the Weiss family on the project, helping shape the architectural direction for the next phase of the district. We’re grateful to be working alongside a talented team of partners, including Back40 Landscape Architecture, Fortis Structural, IMEG, and Samiro.
After many years of planning, conversation, and patience, it’s (very) exciting to finally see this historic Denver site moving forward.
Photo credit: Rock Drill RiNo
2490 Welton St, Denver, CO 80205
720-457-2012
Craine Architecture
