Exterior corner view of the white-brick Faherty building in Denver at Walnut Street with large windows and black trim.

Year:

2024

Location:

RiNo District - Denver, Colorado

Project Type:

Renovation

Client / Entity:

Private

Expanding the Retail Scene: A Historic Renovation in Denver’s RiNo District

The 2700 Walnut project involved the restoration and renovation of a 3,255 SF historic brick building in downtown Denver, featuring retail space on the first and second floors and additional storage in the crawlspace/basement. Collab worked with a private client to preserve the building’s original character while implementing significant accessibility upgrades and restoring the facade, including large windows. Given the building's deteriorating brickwork, we conducted a comprehensive structural analysis and developed creative solutions to restore the exterior.

The project also included a full gut renovation of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. We added ADA-compliant restrooms, installed new mechanical units, and upgraded the electrical meter. Exterior improvements involved the installation of ramps for inclusive access and coordination of right-of-way enhancements, which required navigating the complexities of a busy intersection and collaborating with multiple entities and jurisdictions.

Inside, the renovation revealed and preserved key historic elements, including the original floor structure, wood floors, and masonry. We restored the historic window openings—previously walled-in—back to their original size and shape, bringing in natural light and improving visibility for the retail tenant, while maintaining the building’s historic charm. We also collaborated with Faherty to complete their interior fit-out, ensuring a cohesive integration with the restored architectural elements.

Close-up of the main entrance to Faherty in Denver with flower planters and black-trimmed storefront windows.
Open-concept retail space at Faherty in Denver featuring wood stairs, industrial ceilings, and folded clothing on a vintage trunk display.
Side exterior view of the white-painted Faherty storefront in Denver with desert landscaping and surrounding urban buildings.
Rustic interior of the Faherty store in Denver with exposed brick walls, wood ceilings, mounted decor, and men’s apparel on display.
Rustic interior of the Faherty store in Denver with exposed brick walls, wood ceilings, mounted decor, and men’s apparel on display.
Women's retail area at Faherty in Denver with folded clothes on wood tables, wall-mounted racks, and industrial lighting.
Top down view of staircase in Faherty Denver retail store featuring brick wall, wood staircase, and vintage hand-painted signage displaying the words "Pony Rides"
View into a stylish fitting room at the Faherty store in Denver, featuring patterned wallpaper, a pendant light, and a small red stool.
Interior view of the Faherty retail space in Denver showing a bright, airy showroom with wood flooring, hanging clothing displays, and greenery accents.