We’re proud to announce that our sunken patio’s transformation is complete! It now serves as a beautiful, sustainable, new space for our tenants to enjoy.
WHY WE TRANSFORMED THIS SPACE
To model xeric landscaping in an urban environment. Water is an incredibly important resource in our state and we aim to show that xeric gardens can be beautiful, full of native species, and can use less water than conventional gardening practices.
To combat the heat islands effect. Anyone who lives or works in downtown Denver knows that our city can really heat up in the summer months. The term “heat island” describes the phenomenon where our built environment is hotter than rural areas. For example, the annual mean air temperature of a city with 1 million people or more can be 1.8–5.4°F (1–3°C) warmer than its surroundings.
To provide a beautiful space for our community. Our tenants are an amazing group of driven and creative people – people who deserve a beautiful outdoor space to work and play in! Our patio is open to the public and our tenants during the day as a beautiful gathering space for people to work, network, and relax in a more natural environment.
WHAT’S SUSTAINABLE ABOUT OUR PATIO?
Lots and lots of reclaimed beetle-kill pine. We are using locally-harvested beetle-kill pine to create planter boxes and benches along the edges of our sunken patio. Using reclaimed wood benefits our local environment by reducing fuel for fires and our economy by supporting local businesses.
Hundreds of low-water plants. From flowers to grasses to shrubs, we focused on finding native Colorado plants that require very little water. Water is an important commodity in Colorado and we want to show that a little bit can go a very long way.
