A Kaleidoscopic Triumph
The Prism | Denver, Colorado
This distinctive project features a one-of-a-kind, folded glass “crinkle wall” along the south elevation that creates a spectacular prismatic appearance.
About The Project
The Prism is a nine-story, mixed-use building with 107,074-sq.-ft. of Class A office space and 5,000-sq.-ft. of ground-floor retail. Adjacent to The Quincy (a luxury residential high-rise also completed by our team and Shea Properties), the Prism brings a unique look to downtown Denver. A glass “crinkle wall” provides the exterior envelope for this building, offering a multifaceted complex of geometric shapes. The first floor consists of a high-end, main entry off of 17th Street, with space dedicated to future retail along Curtis Street, a bike storage room, and a loading dock. Level two features a conference room and corridors connecting to the adjacent parking structure at 1776 Curtis.
The building features an iconic glass “crinkle” wall – a multifaceted elevation of complex geometry – on the west elevation. Starting at level three, this glazed specialty structure by Novum Structures, folds in, out, left, and right, giving the building a dramatic appearance. The irregular patterns of the glass create bold shapes on the street and capture uniquely abstracted reflections of the surrounding buildings. Each floor plate is customized in response to the zig-zag geometry, allowing the interior space to break free from traditional office standards and respond more creatively to the tailored nature of the design.
The project was a zero-lot-line completed on a busy intersection in the heart of Denver’s financial district.
Fast Facts
- The crinkle wall, while aesthetically beautiful, involved meticulous planning, coordination, and collaboration among the construction team, the structural engineer – S.A. Miro, the steel subcontractor, Davis Partnership, and Novum Structures. Installing this amazing feature was made all the more difficult because of the location of the site.
- Part of LEED certification involved storage for 24 bikes, along with showers and dressing rooms so tenants can bike to work. To accommodate this, the electrical room was relocated from the first floor to the second floor, something the local energy provider had never encountered before.
- The project team was able to complete the project with zero recordable injuries. Early buy-in from everyone on-site and implementation of a comprehensive set of safety processes and protocols were essential in achieving this.
Measure Twice, Construct Once
To connect the two curtain wall systems together, the team developed a full-sized mockup. This, alongside tremendous collaboration between our project team and JRB, ensured the two dissimilar systems would work flawlessly together. The effort resulted in a 100% pass rate when the water test was performed.
The project team also had less than 10 embeds that had to be adjusted and no anchor bolts required replacement or relocation.
Working within Tight Spaces
In addition to the busy intersection of 17th and Curtis Streets in the heart of downtown Denver, the crew had to be aware of and protect the amenities deck on the adjacent building – the Quincy, at 1776 Curtis Street. The Prism reached three stories above the deck, and the pool on the deck remained open throughout construction. The project also shared many services with the Quincy, including the fire sprinkler feed, storm water retention, emergency power, parking, and fire alarm devices, requiring constant communication between the project team and the Quincy.
Measure Twice, Construct Once
To connect the two curtain wall systems together, the team developed a full-sized mockup. This, alongside tremendous collaboration between our project team and JRB, ensured the two dissimilar systems would work flawlessly together. The effort resulted in a 100% pass rate when the water test was performed.
The project team also had less than 10 embeds that had to be adjusted and no anchor bolts required replacement or relocation.
Working within Tight Spaces
In addition to the busy intersection of 17th and Curtis Streets in the heart of downtown Denver, the crew had to be aware of and protect the amenities deck on the adjacent building – the Quincy, at 1776 Curtis Street. The Prism reached three stories above the deck, and the pool on the deck remained open throughout construction. The project also shared many services with the Quincy, including the fire sprinkler feed, storm water retention, emergency power, parking, and fire alarm devices, requiring constant communication between the project team and the Quincy.
