Cities can be scaled for the pedestrian by offering detail, texture and discoveries that are best appreciated while walking. Fort Collins has a vital and thriving example of this in its systems of pedestrian alleys in the Old Town district.
5/27/2015
Western History
Print this item: Auntie Stones Mess Hall and Hotel, first dwelling house built in Fort Collins
Fort Collins 1899
http://cdm16079.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/printview/collection/p15330coll22/id/11305/type/singleitem
Fort Collins 2017
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Pueblo - Hotel Vail
In the new and rapidly growing frontier communities, Hotels were vitally important to residents and visitors alike by providing economic, cultural and personal hubs.
Central City - The Teller House
Ouray - Beaumont Hotel
Manitou Springs - Navajo Hotel
Fort Collins - Northern Hotel
Cripple Creek - Hotel Imperial
Historically, Hotels were often the most articulated and refined buildings within a city’s center. They were meant to be welcoming and sophisticated: approachably luxurious. They celebrated the specific place and the visitor who was staying there. Telluride - New Sheridan Hotel
Canon City- Hotel Canyon
Durango-Strater Hotel
Boulder - Boulderado Hotel
Denver- Brown Palace looking West
Within early Colorado, hotels were amongst the most stately buildings in the city center, generally only eclipsed by Government Buildings, Bank Buildings and occasionally Churches. Hotels acted as beacons to travelers who might not know the city as well as viewing platforms from which they might come to know their new location. Colorado Springs, Alamo Hotel & Antlers Hotel
Colorado Springs - Antlers Hotel
Colorado Springs - Alta Vista Hotel
Colorado Springs - Broodmoor Hotel
HOTEL MASSING EVOLUTION: restricted views
56’
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Zoning: Building mass “built to” Walnut Street at Floors 1-3. Floor 4 steps back at 35-degrees, per zoning. Maximum height below 56’ limit.
Zoning: Rotating massing towards Walnut Street creates better massing articulation along public edge and introduces more sunshine onto terrace. Floor 4 steps back in a similar way, building height still under 56’ max.
Experiential: West facing courtyard does not address Walnut Street. Limited sunshine into upper floor terrace. Solid building mass at corner of Walnut & City Parcel creates abrupt and anonymous transition towards Old Town.
Experiential: Guests using the upper terrace can become part of the “street life” along Walnut Street.
9’-8”
56’
58’-60’
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Zoning: Upper floor massing is reduced at west wing to become more compatible with neighboring single story buildings. Asymmetric massing along Walnut Street Building begins to better stitch into site and reconcile overlapping city grids in unique way. Hotel program is lost as a result. Experiential: Visual connections between Old Town and Hotel are strengthened. Views to & from site are enhanced.
Zoning: Upper floor to floor heights reduced from standard 10-6” to 9’8” to minimize incremental height of adding a story. Resulting building is 1 story over allowed, but minimally over Zoning height. Experiential: Gateway massing created between Mitchell Building and Hotel. Overall building heights are within 2’-3’ of each other. Mitchell Building has four “tall floors”, but the Hotel accomplishes this with “tall” ground floor and “shallow” upper floors.
Mass stepped back to create transition to existing Walnut Street elevation
Top Level mass is pushed to alley side
Walnut elevation line is maintained Top Level Stepped back from Masonry Facade Top Level stepped back from the Street Four story mass aligns with Mitchell Building mass
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Zoning: To reduce the presence of the partial Fifth Floor along Walnut and Chestnut, the primary upper floor building step back occurs between Floors Four and Five, rather than between Floors Three and Four, as required by zoning. Experiential: The Fifth Floor is envisioned as a penthouse with material changes and additional fenestration to lighten the uppermost mass. Facade articulation at the Fifth Floor is simple, with more craft, detail and architectural refinements reserved for lower floors.
Top Level Stepped back from Masonry Facade
Street Level Stepped back from Masonry Facade
Zoning: To further reduce the presence of the Fifth Floor, the uppermost massing is set back from the Fourth Floor. Experiential: The Fifth Floor becomes further removed from the pedestrian or vehicular views. Likewise, the overall mass appears to be lower.
Fifth story pulled away from Walnut Street and expressed in different material steps back from all sides to diminish visual impact.
Fifth story expressed in different material steps back from all sides to diminish visual impact. Upper level massing interlocks with lower levels at the corner three story mass expressed in masonry Primary three story mass expressed in masonry Fourth story attic - step/change in material
Primary three story mass expressed in masonry Fourth story attic-step/change in material
Top
Undulating parapet height
Undulating parapet height
Middle Music Library
Restaurant
Stairs
Meeting Rooms
Entry
CHESTNUT STREET MASSING
Base
Lobby Bar
Restaurant
WALNUT STREET MASSING
Walnut and Chestnut Street Intersection
Chestnut Street Elevation
Parking Garage from Jefferson Street
Parking Garage Entry
Hotel and Parking Garage
Old Firehouse Alley
Old Firehouse Alley
Old Firehouse Alley
Grand Stair
SkyBar
Lobby Bar
Music Suite