Our Story
Learn how The Alliance Center came to be.
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1908
1536 Wynkoop Takes Shape
The six-story, 36,000-square-foot brick building was erected in 1908 as a warehouse for the Kennicott-Patterson Transfer and Storage Company.
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1920s
A Warehouse for Denver
Merchant Transfer and Storage Company used the building as a warehouse for dry goods arriving or departing by train at Union Station.
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1930s–1950s
Gate Rubber Company and Morey Mercantile
The building was owned by Gates Rubber Company as a warehouse. For a time, it leased space to Morey Mercantile (bulging at the seams next door). The Mercantile was the largest grocery business in the West in terms of sales, territory, and number of employees under the brand name Solitaire.
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1960s–1983
A Time of Transition
Following World War II, the lower downtown area went through a slow, steady decline. The number of passenger trains passing through dropped from 80 to two per day. The building sat vacant temporarily before being remodeled into office space.
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1990
A Colorado Institution Moves In
The building was purchased by Joyce Meskis, the owner of the Tattered Cover Bookstore, a Denver institution. From this warehouse location and the building next door, Tattered Cover shipped, received, and warehoused their stock of books. The building was also home to the first official offices of the Wynkoop Brewing Company, owned by John Hickenlooper.
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1997
The Colorado Environmental Coalition Is Born
In 1997, John Powers donated seed money for the Colorado Environmental Coalition (CEC). With funding from CEC and Colorado-based foundations, Powers launched the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado. The Alliance Center was established to house like-minded organizations and foster collaboration. Over the years, Powers expanded the original idea to support more than 50 environmental and social justice organizations at once.
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2004
The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado Is Established
In 2004, John Powers, a longtime board member of the Colorado Environmental Coalition, established the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado (now The Alliance for Collective Action). The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado was created to advance sustainability through collaboration and to transform sustainability from a concept into a reality. The Alliance Center was established to house like-minded organizations and foster collaboration. Over the years, Powers expanded the original idea to support more than 50 environmental and social justice organizations at once. The Alliance Center also hosts events and programs that allow ideas to be circulated between groups and reduce expenses.
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2004
Amendment 37, the Colorado Renewable Energy Requirement, Has Gone into Effect
Voters in Colorado approved Amendment 37 in 2004. This amendment called for utilities to increase the use of renewable energy sources while reducing costs for the consumer. It required investor-owned utilities to obtain at least 3 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2007 and required 10 percent generation from renewable energy by 2015.
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2005
The Better Building Coalition Is Formed
Staff members from the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado formed the Better Building Coalition to push for improvements standards for publicly owned buildings.
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2005
Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation Energy Champion Award
The Center received the Energy Champion Award from Colorado Governor Owens’ Office of Energy Management and Conservation for our performance and efforts.
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2006
LEED Existing Buildings – Gold
We received the first Alliance’s certification in building operations using what is known as the LEED Existing Buildings rating system. The Alliance Center was awarded Gold certification for energy and environmental performance. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for buildings and communities. See US EPA Energy Star.
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2006
USGBC’s National Leadership Award for Education by an Organization
The leadership award celebrates the individuals and organizations that have positively contributed to the evolution of green building and sustainability. We received the award in 2006 for our sustainability tours and green building advocacy.
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2007
City of Denver Mayor’s Design Award: It Ain’t Easy Being Green
These community design awards recognize the city for achievements in architecture, urban design and place-making. The Alliance Center was selected for efforts using and promoting green building practices.
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2008
The Big Tent
Envisioned by John Powers, Michael Northrop (Rockefeller Brothers Fund), and Bill Becker (Presidential Climate Action Project), the Big Tent was a national event held at the Alliance Center during the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The Big Tent was a collaboration between the Alliance and several organizations, including Google, Digg, ProgressNow, Daily Kos, and the Huffington Post. The event provided a space for bloggers, journalists, and political leaders to discuss sustainability and climate change. The Big Tent was a major milestone for the Alliance Center and helped to establish it as a hub for sustainability and innovation. The Big Tent was also a model for future events and collaborations.
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2008
Environmental Leadership Program Gold Leader
Awarded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Gold Leader status recognizes organizations that demonstrate outstanding environmental achievements. The Alliance Center earned Gold Leader status in 2008 for our sustainability efforts.
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2008
Wirth Chair Pioneer of the New Energy Economy Award
Founder John Powers received the Wirth Chair Pioneer of the New Energy Economy Award.
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2008
10 Best Bet Awards
The Alliance Center received an award as one of the Best Bets for Going Green.
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2011
LEED Existing Buildings V2009 Gold Recertification
The Alliance Center achieved LEED Gold recertification.
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2012
City of Denver’s Showcase Project with the Department of Energy’s Better Building Challenge
The Alliance Center’s renovation was chosen by the City of Denver to serve as its showcase project for the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, which is a federal initiative to make buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade. Click here to read about our project and how we decreased our per capita energy usage by over 49 percent.
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2017
LEED v4 Existing Buildings Operations + Maintenance Platinum
The Center was the first building in Colorado to achieve Platinum certification under LEED v4, a version of LEED for existing buildings.
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2019
WELL Health-Safety Rating Achieved
The Center achieved a WELL Health-Safety Rating for our commitment to occupant wellness.
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2023
Restored Patio and Unveiled the Green Waves Garden
Thanks to enthusiastic donors, The Center upgraded the patio to be more functional and welcoming. The patio now features a stage, seating, and a Green Waves Garden. The garden is a demonstration of regenerative urban agriculture and includes native plants, pollinator habitats, and edible perennials. The Green Waves Garden is a collaboration between The Alliance Center and local organizations. The garden is designed to educate visitors about sustainable agriculture and provide a space for relaxation, beauty, and pollinators.
