Craine Architecture has designed The Wheatley, which is a luxury apartment complex with a for sale townhome component located in the Welton Corridor of Denver. There are 82 apartments and 14 luxury town homes. This project is currently under construction. The program is contained within five stories and one level of underground parking. Working with the Denver Landmark staff and the Commission, the building has been designed to be of its time, while incorporating elements that reference the rich context of the neighborhood. Although much of the building’s massing, material selections, and detailing, were informed by the character defining elements of the neighborhood, perhaps the most unique element is the chamfered corner, used throughout the district as a way to address the public right-of-way, and provide for a welcoming building entry. The Wheatley celebrates the corner at the intersection of 25th and Welton with a chamfered condition, enhanced masonry detailing, and a suspended canopy, marking this prominent building entry.
The architectural fabric along the Welton corridor, is generally arranged into multiples of 25 feet, relating to the typical lot width. Historically significant buildings in the Five Points neighborhood, such as the Rossonian, have been organized with an obvious base, articulated with highly transparent storefront, a less transparent middle and a top that is often characterized by a projecting cornice. The Wheatley has been crafted to balance this contextually appropriate traditional language, with a material palette and detail refinement, familiar to contemporary architecture.