COMMUNITY

Preserving and restoring historical projects ensures continuity for future generations

As a team, we recognize how important it is that historic preservation projects serve the local community. By understanding the past, we can better inform the future and build deep, connected communities.

The vision of the thoughtful reincarnation of the wide open salon included creating multiple gathering areas for collaboration, conversation, and meetings among team members, clients, colleagues and the community.

Historic Aspen Times Building and The Hotel Jerome

This historic preservation project achieves mutual team and client goals of creating a seamless connection among four main elements, the existing Hotel Jerome, a National Landmark, the newly restored Aspen Times building (also a National Landmark), new Suites at Hotel Jerome, and the revitalized central courtyard.

In line with a fundamental belief in historic preservation and the creation of timeless architecture, our team addressed two visually opposed historic buildings, the stately 1889 Hotel Jerome and the former, long-time home to The Aspen Times newspaper company built in 1904, for this singular addition and restoration project.

ASPEN TIMES + HOTEL JEROME

REMOVE NON-HISTORIC ADDITIONS

Additions that have been added to the historic Aspen

SENSITIVE ADDITION

A new addition is sensitively designed to highlight the historic Aspen Times and complement the

ASPEN TIMES PRESERVATION

COURTYARD REVITALIZATION

A true Aspen landmark built in 1889, Hotel Jerome’s stately brick façade set the challenge of designing a multiple-suite and gathering place addition that responded to and highlighted the existing structure in style and demeanor. The restoration and repurposing of the adjacent historic 1904 Aspen Times building as a speakeasy and entertainment venue meant respecting and enhancing its informal, historic wood façade. In addition, redesigning a central garden courtyard encompassing a pool and providing outdoor restaurant seating, presented additional challenges.

Designed as an extension of the courtyard, the new three-story Suites building features cedar siding specially stained to complement the red brick siding of the existing hotel. An informal, Accoya hardwood screen on the façade functions as a vertical garden trellis. Interior palette, millwork, finishes and furnishings take their cue from the original hotel, for which R+B completed a full interior renovation in 2012.

Boettcher Building

The rehabilitation of the Boettcher Building design goals began with seeking Landmark Designation to the Aspen Modern Inventory of historic structures.

With this designation in mind, the team developed the primary design goal: to honor and respect the legacy of Herbert Bayer with a thoughtful restoration of the exterior and creative renovation of the interior to guide the building through the next four decades, with an emphasis on flexibility and innovation. Crucial to the entire work, the existing open-air central courtyard would need to be enclosed to provide greater year-round functionality and comfort.

CASE STUDY: BOETTCHER BUILDING

Rounding out the renovation, the building received an extensive upgrade to all building systems. Thermal efficiency is increased by 300% through the addition of high-performance continuous insulation and new windows and doors. Mechanical system efficiency is approximately 70% better than the existing HVAC system. All interior light and plumbing fixtures are high efficiency and finishes are low-VOC and recyclable.

Beyond the many technical challenges of preserving and rehabilitating the structure for modern use, the Team faced the challenge of honoring the original design. To do this, new elements needed to share the existing building’s underlying principles and concepts but be distinct from them and of their own time. By carefully studying the existing building, the design team identified these features and tailored the new architecture to emphasize, contribute to, and enhance the existing building.

CASE STUDY: BOETTCHER BUILDING

Organized on an 3×3 grid, the key spaces are arranged on two axes, oriented north-south and east-west, with the central courtyard at the intersection. The new roof structure, ceiling design, and pyramidal skylight align and emphasis these axes, creating a volumetric space in the center of the building where the visitor is naturally directed for a creative exchange of ideas. Large doors between the rooms along the north-south axis slide aside to unite the spaces into one, with a new “Creative Lab” anchoring the southern end of the axis, and break-out spaces arranged to the east and west, creating a dynamic flow of people and ideas.

Mesa Store

The historic Mesa Building, located on Main Street at the entrance to Aspen, is the home of R+B’s Aspen studio and firm headquarters.

Designated and recognized by the City of Aspen Historic Preservation Commission, the 1888 Mesa Building has long enjoyed a distinct vantage point at the top of Aspen’s Main Street, the “Mesa.” Honoring a strong sense of stewardship and preservation and following extensive research into the history of the building, R+B’s preservation efforts included removing all non-historic windows and replacing them with replicas as researched in historic photos. The non-historic, covered entry roof fascia was removed and the historic detailing that had been covered up was restored.

“The Mesa Store has been our favorite Main Street building since the day Sarah and I first moved to town. Building on the legacy of our firm while acting as the faithful stewards of this important property is humbling. As we embrace the opportunity to control our own destiny, it’s an honor and a privilege to call the Mesa Store our studio and R+B home!”

The driving concept of the interior was to create a highly collaborative, healthy, sustainable, accessible work environment. Circulation spaces are surrounded by individual work zones at the perimeter, ergonomic uplift desktops and built-ins were custom designed to maximize comfort and efficiency, and natural light is filtered in through historic glass storefront windows. The Mesa Store is loved by the community who are encouraged to “come by” for coffee in the front café style kitchen facing the street.

The entry is surrounded by an enormous historic glass storefront that once saw uses as a bakery, general store and retail. This inspired the design team to respectfully place a welcome desk and kitchen that encourages the spirit of the hospitality of the past.

Awards

Since its founding, Rowland+Broughton has been honored with design awards and accolades for the firm’s historic preservation work. A sampling of our preservation awards is highlighted here.

AIA Colorado – Colorado Homes & Lifestyles

Editor’s Choice Award Ridge House

AIA Colorado – Award of Distinction

Aspen Times Building and Suites at the Hotel Jerome

Colorado CARE Awards

Mesa Building – Commercial Remodel

Aspen Historic Preservation Commission Award

Historic Preservation Award – Mesa Store

Luxe RED Awards

Major Restoration/Renovation – Ridge House

American Institute of Architects (AIA) Historic Preservation Award Hotel Jerome | Aspen, CO

AIA Colorado State Honorable Mention Game On – Residential Architecture

AIA Colorado Denver Honorable Mention Game On – Residential Architecture

AIA Colorado West Citation Award Game On – Residential – $1 Million–$3 Million

Aspen Historic Preservation Commission Award White House Tavern – Renovation

ENR Mountain States Merit Award Hotel Jerome – Best Project

Aspen Historic Preservation Commission Award Hotel Jerome – Renovation

IIDA MERIT Awards - Rocky Mountain Chapter Hotel Jerome – Play

Aspen Historic Preservation Commission Award Crandall Building

AIA Colorado West – Honor Award Crandall Building – Historic Preservation