Located along the edge of award-winning 39th Ave Greenway in the River North (RiNo) area of Denver, the Denver Rock Drill Redevelopment presents a unique opportunity to integrate historic structures, dynamic new mixed-use buildings, and a flexible, high-quality public realm for the surrounding neighborhoods.

Historic preservation and adaptive reuse

The plan envisions an activated, year-round destination that offers high-quality, accessible spaces to support everyday uses. The site is designed to be flexible, with streets that can be closed or opened to traffic in a variety of configurations to support anything from small events to neighborhood-scale festivals. 

The design upholds a strong commitment to preserve and integrate existing architecture into the development, providing nearby communities and the greater Denver area with an iconic destination recognized for its adaptive-reuse, sustainability, and historic preservation. These preserved buildings and structures will provide a strong framework for reinvention— the historic Sawtooth buildings will house retail, offices, and residential uses while continuing to anchor the project in its industrial heritage. The goal is to honor the memory of the site while integrating modern vibrancy, a principle central to the project’s integrated, context-driven design approach.

Circulation and regional connectivity

The Rock Drill district integrates an adaptable street network designed with intention: a pedestrian-focused environment flexible enough to host markets, festivals, and outdoor performances, while still accommodating daily vehicular access. These spaces are planned for inclusivity, making the neighborhood safer, more porous, and more vibrant, while supporting a resilient, human-centered urban design.

The main thoroughfare, East Weiss Way, will provide a direct connection from Williams Street to the Central Plaza, located at the heart of the new district. Throughout Weiss Way, trees in structural cells and vegetated areas will adhere to green infrastructure best practices, managing stormwater through bioretention while increasing the amount of shaded areas. A site-wide stormwater detention will be located beneath East Weiss Way.

Extensive engagement with the surrounding Cole and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods shaped every connection—pedestrian and bicycle access, transit connections, and greenway linkages—ensuring that the redevelopment radiates energy outward, weaving itself into the urban fabric of the nearby communities. Sited near the 38th & Blake Station, the district offers connections to both the City of Denver’s transit network and Denver International Airport, creating opportunities to attract visitors locally, regionally, and nationally once complete.

Looking Ahead

The Denver Rock Drill Redevelopment is moving through the entitlement process, with infrastructure, circulation, and open space strategies setting the stage for a dynamic vertical development. Upcoming milestones include rezoning, completion of key entitlement processes, and the advancement of the design for the site and buildings. When complete, the project will deliver a resilient, community-centered destination that honors Denver’s industrial heritage while creating new opportunities for connection, culture, and growth.