16 Chestnut Office Tower

Redefining Denver’s skyline with a transit-oriented office tower that blends sustainability, connectivity, and modern workplace design.

Located at the base of Denver’s Millennium Bridge in the heart of the Union Station district, 16 Chestnut is a 648,874-square-foot office tower that serves as a prominent landmark within one of the city’s most dynamic urban environments. The 19-story building was designed to capitalize on panoramic mountain and city views through an expansive glass façade that maximizes daylight and enhances the occupant experience.

The development includes 19 floors of Class A office space, two levels of underground parking, five levels of above-grade parking, first-floor retail, dual lobby spaces, secure bicycle storage, and an 8,000-square-foot fitness center and yoga studio. These amenities support a modern, wellness-focused workplace while offering tenants convenient access to the surrounding neighborhood.

Architecturally, the tower features a sophisticated exterior composed of eight distinct materials, including precast concrete, ribbon window curtain wall systems, structural curtain wall glazing, metal panels, marble, granite, louvers, and sustainably sourced Brazilian ironwood. Together, these elements create a refined architectural expression that distinguishes the building within Denver’s skyline.

Sustainability was a key priority throughout the project. Twenty percent of building materials were sourced and manufactured within 500 miles of the site, while another 20 percent contained recycled content. All wood products were obtained from sustainably managed forests. Additional environmental features include a rainwater collection system, rooftop solar panels, and advanced energy monitoring systems that track building performance and support long-term efficiency goals.

The project’s urban location presented significant construction challenges. Situated on a highly constrained site, the building is bordered by Millennium Bridge, Union Station’s light rail platform, the underground bus concourse, and RTD’s Free MallRide corridor, which the building partially spans. Careful coordination was required to maintain pedestrian circulation, transit operations, and public access throughout construction.

In addition to constructing the core and shell, Saunders completed the DaVita tenant build-out on floors eight through 19, supporting the company’s expansion from its nearby headquarters. The result is a signature office tower that combines exceptional design, sustainability, and connectivity while helping define one of Denver’s most important transportation and business districts.

This project received multiple industry awards, including:

• 2019 Best Project Winner for Office/Retail/Mixed-Use from Engineering News-Record (ENR) Mountain States.
• LEED Platinum Certification, 2018