DENVER, CO (December 8th, 2022) – Last month, Unico Properties was honored with a Mayor’s Design Award for our work on Platte Street Plaza by Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. Since 2005, the Mayor’s Design Awards have honored projects for excellence in architecture, exterior design and placemaking. The awards are presented to Denver homeowners, business owners, nonprofits, artists and others for their creative contributions to the public realm through innovative design and placemaking.
Platte Street Plaza was presented with an award in the Neighborhood Gem category, which highlights projects that exemplify the unique character of their neighborhoods and are recognized by the community as local treasures.
Unico Properties, in collaboration with Swinerton Builders, Dig Studio and the city of Denver, came together to create a community-minded place that bridges the gap between traditional heritage and modern society while transforming the underutilized, yet highly trafficked, passageway into a dynamic gathering space.
Located at the corner of 16th St. and Platte St., Platte Street Plaza sits at one of Denver’s most established and activated thoroughfares, linking the Lower Highland neighborhood with Downtown Denver through a unique sense of place by marrying the old with the new. Preserved and renovated historic properties pay homage to the area’s past as a hub of commerce and industry while mixed use developments have assisted in a renewed sense of innovation along with architectural possibilities.
With free WiFi and a sizable power source, the plaza makes for the perfect spot to host community events of any size, from neighborhood meetings and farmers markets to pop-up shops and more. Filled with shady trees and ample seating, nearby residents and employees of Platte Park businesses can enjoy lunch or just a break from day-to-day activities at the professionally-managed outdoor amenity space that runs along the river.
Unico also partnered with NINE dot ARTS, working with Denver artist Jamie Molina and Pedro Barrios to create to large-format murals for Platte Street Plaza which can be seen from Platte Street and I-25. Celebrating the history of the area, the artists’ concepts focus on the transition of Platte Street from its origins as a gold mining area to a vibrant, modern neighborhood. Along with engaging murals, the National Velvet sculpture created by Denver visual artist John McEnroe will also be a main focal point of the plaza.
We are thrilled that our vision for Platte Street Plaza came to fruition and is being recognized as a neighborhood gem. This project emphasizes how public gathering spaces can play a major role in heightening our experiences in urban environments. At Unico, we pride ourselves in being unafraid to take unconventional approaches to create spaces the Denver community craves. Placemaking like this serves to enhance local businesses as well as the lives of tenants, residents and visitors alike.