The Arapahoe Steps
- Award Year: 2022
- Award Category: Design under $500k
- Award Designation: Merit Award
- Client: Calvary Episcopal Church
- Location: Golden, Colorado
Once a dead-end street, the Arapaho Steps and Parging Garage/Events Deck is now a bustling destination in the heart of Golden. The street has been reimagined to help pedestrians navigate steep mountain streets.
This early concept diagram depicts the space that unites disparate neighborhood together and links the Colorado School of Mines with the Downtown streets. Shapes have changed from this diagram, but the fundamental program is in place.
Café 13 was found space that turned into a destination spot with a cool mountain vibe. Custom lamps designed by the landscape architect and crafted by local artisans include hand blown glass and logs harvested from a nearby site.
Students have made this a go-to destination for studying and socializing. This is equally true of patrons to Café 13 and the public. This found space brings many walks of life together to enjoy the charming Golden atmosphere.
The ‘Pivot Gardens’ at High Prairie Park abstract the resultant agricultural patterns that shape the breadbasket of North America. The Pivot arm irrigation completely changed the character of the American Prairie landscape.
This area was once a parking lot that was converted into a wooded place to picnic and play. The one-of-a kind table was custom designed by the design team and fashioned out of a dying on-site Honey locust.
The black columns are an adaptable play feature that touches on the adventure-minded population of Golden. Rather than specifying traditional play equipment, the design team created the forest poles that transform into a slackline course for kids and adults.
Carefully designed to be a destination garden that can host public gatherings, the space can easily transform from a wedding venue to the monthly bike rally, and from home of beer and chili festivals to the Christmas candlelight walk.
The plaza and terraced steps work well to unify the street and the adjacent building to the dramatic mesa and foothills backdrop.
The project was carefully designed to unite steep grade changes to make the church more accessible while giving the Church an autonomous edge. Likewise, the Plaza and Steps perform as an authentic and attractive public space as well.
The combination of the formal plaza and the parking/events deck create an ideal Golden destination for grand and small-scale events.
Evening events here are gorgeous with special lighting features and the natural sound of the water runnel make this space desirable and a quiet respite from daily demands.
The planting strategy was designed to change throughout the seasons and always provide a new experience. From red flowering echinacea to the ornamental grasses that change from spring through winter, the surrounding foliage feels appropriate and authentic.
Finishes like stainless steel and brick help to elevate the quality of Golden’s public realm. Golden historically produced high-quality brick for the building industry. The use of modern materials juxtaposed with brick masonry gives the environment an authentic Golden character.