The unceremonious departure of a renowned architect who was to design Denver’s new courthouse left Mayor John Hickenlooper in a tough spot.
He had pledged to deliver a building of world-class design in exchange for voter approval of a $378 million justice center that would hold courtrooms and jail space.
Then, Stephen Holl, the vaunted architect who was to help Hickenlooper keep that pledge, departed last month in a dispute involving budget and communication. It left the project in the hands of a local architect with much to recommend him but no experience on a project of this magnitude.
The mayor has scrambled to devise a reasonable workaround to fill the void created by the embarrassing unraveling of the contract. There’s little margin for error.
Last week, Hickenlooper assembled a panel of architects who will look over the shoulder of local architect Brian Klipp as he designs the $127 million courthouse.
The key, Hickenlooper said, was to draft a group of people who have not only the skills but the ability to work as a team. He is keenly aware that city residents won’t be satisfied unless the design befits its premier location in Civic Center.
“You have this trust that [we] are not going to build the cheapest, most functional building,” Hickenlooper said.
The review panel includes six noted architects: Bruce Kuwabara of Toronto; John Ellis of San Francisco; Laurie Olin of Philadelphia; Lee Becker of Washington, D.C.; and David Owen Tryba and Ranko Ruizic, both of Denver. Tryba is the master designer of the justice center, and Ruizic is responsible for designing the post office and parking garage in the three-structure Justice Center complex. Peter Park, Denver’s manager of community planning and development, is on the hook, too, as coordinator.
The group already is beginning to receive schematics for comment. They are to meet soon in a “charrette,” a long, intense gathering in which they’ll brainstorm about design alternatives. The public will get its first look at the new drawings early in January.
The review ensemble will add some months to the project timetable, but we favor the slow-and-steady approach for a building that will outlive most of us.
The next significant hurdle will be getting construction companies to price out the options, which will be a significant test of the process. It will also be an important test of the mayor’s leadership. It’s relatively easy to govern when things are going great and there’s money to spend. But when problems arise – such as a divorce from your star architect – the resulting improvisation is a challenge and a test.
