Sasaki worked closely with the client, developers Golub & Company and Formativ, the City of Denver, and civil engineers to deliver a new commercial and civic development typology along the South Platte River Trail. As part of a larger open-space network, Denargo Market is a critical new link in the already diverse chain of existing public spaces along Denver’s riverfront.

With connections to Cuernavaca Park, Commons Park, Confluence Park, and the RiNo Art Park, Denargo Market is the new downtown gateway to the RiNo Art District.

The site is programmed for year-round uses, with features supporting a diverse range of site amenities including riverfront overlooks, custom play spaces, a central event lawn, an interactive water feature, fire pit, community garden, sport courts, and dog park. These spaces are designed to be flexible to support placemaking and programming for surrounding residents, Denverites as a whole, and future office, hospitality, and retail tenants.

This public realm network ties together the largest urban infill project currently under development in the city. When fully built out, Denargo Market will support thousands of new residents in varying residential products and amazing office space supported by an extensive ground floor retail program. 

Along with the riverfront venues, Denargo Market’s streetscapes integrate best practices for complete streets and look to expand the public transportation and multi-modal options in the area. Internal circulation focuses on prioritizing pedestrians and bicycles while allowing key vehicular traffic connections to retail spaces and access to future vertical buildings. 

Urban Meets Industrial Meets Wild

The unique locale and historic open-market use of the site presented a wealth of opportunity to draw inspiration. A refined industrial aesthetic is incorporated through the material selections, which are softened with thoughtfully placed native plantings, capturing and celebrating the spirit of Colorado’s landscape. Positioned at the crossroads of Denver’s urban core, the RiNo Art district, and the South Platte River Corridor, the Sasaki design team built the district’s aesthetic around the mantra, ‘where urban meets industrial meets wild.’ 

The team also integrated artistic features – a custom climbing rhinoceros (affectionately named Rhingo), playground tower, shade structures, and custom site furnishings – throughout the site while providing the infrastructure to support additional programming and installations specifically curated by the ownership team. 

Creating an Infrastructure Network

The existing site conditions presented a unique challenge to introduce new supporting infrastructure. The Sasaki team worked closely with project partners Martin & Martin to create a utility and stormwater network that meets the City of Denver’s requirements while allowing for the implementation of the innovative urban design vision. Given that there was no existing infrastructure on-site, the team coordinated an efficient utility layout without compromising the desired site programming.    

Alternative stormwater management and water quality strategies include rain gardens, detention basins, and an underground sand filter. All water is treated and detained in a 4,760 gallon underground vault system before being discharged into the metro stormwater system. 

Denargo Market represents one of Denver’s most ambitious investments in urban public realm and exemplifies how strategic investment and design of public space can catalyze development, elevate value, and leave a lasting imprint on a city’s urban identity. Rather than leading with vertical development, the project began with horizontal design and implementation of community-driven public realm while establishing infrastructure for seven blocks of future vertical development.

The project’s groundbreaking took place in September 2023 and the completed public realm opened to the community with a grand opening block party in September 2025. Click here to learn more about the Denargo Market development.