US studio Morris Adjmi Architects has completed a Denver office building in a former industrial zone with a gridded black facade and wellness amenities such as an indoor basketball court and climbing wall.

The building is located on the northern edge of downtown Denver, in a rapidly evolving neighbourhood known as River North Arts District (RiNo).

Formerly an industrial zone, the area has been transformed into a vibrant neighbourhood filled with creatives and young professionals. Numerous buildings have popped up in the past decade, including a 15-storey tower by MAD Architects with a facade that looks "cracked" open.

A gridded black facade surrounds Steel House

Situated on a rectangular plot near rail lines, Steel House was designed by New York's Morris Adjmi Architects to bring "fresh yet contextually energy" to the district.

"The building's form and detailing pay tribute to the warehouse typologies and industrial infrastructure that once defined the district," the studio said.

"Inspired by the area's industrial past and increasingly diverse present, the building introduces a contemporary workplace that reinforces RiNo's identity as a hub for innovation and culture."

It is located in a former industrial area in Denver

Rising 12 storeys, the building has a blocky form with certain areas cut away from setbacks. Access to views and natural light, along with programmatic needs, informed the building's massing.

Seven levels contain office space, and several others hold above-ground parking. The ground floor is reserved for retail and the entrance lobby.

The 12-storey building has a wraparound outdoor terrace

Facades are clad in C-shaped beams with charcoal and silver colouring. Perforated metal screens wrap the parking levels.

The facades were designed to "express verticality and rhythm while providing a unified architectural language".

The main entrance is found on the southwest side of the building, where a tower-like element draws upon vernacular motifs.

The outdoor spaces were designed for relaxation and informal gathering

"Referencing historical lift towers and grain silos, the vertical, steel-framed structure operates as a visual anchor – both from the street and the adjacent rail corridor – and reinforces the project's industrial lineage," the team said.

"Linear LED lighting subtly illuminates the exposed steel structure, transforming the element into a glowing landmark after dark and underscoring the building's presence as a beacon within the district."

Terraces and inset balconies are integrated across multiple levels of the building, including a wraparound terrace at the penthouse level.

"These outdoor moments not only bring fresh light and air deeper into the floorplates, but also create opportunities for informal gathering, relaxation, and taking in the views of downtown Denver and the Rocky Mountains," the team said.

The interiors have an industrial appearance

On one of the upper floors, the team created an outdoor terrace totalling 13,000 square feet (1,208 square metres).

Serving as the building's social heart, the terrace features flexible seating, dining spaces and barbecue grills – amenities that support everything from "casual lunches to after-hours events".

The interior design incorporates the industrial language found on the exterior, while also introducing a feeling of warmth and material richness.

A stone reception desk stands at Steel House's entrance

Upon entering, visitors step into a double-height lobby designed to evoke a boutique hotel.

Features include a cleft-stone reception desk, textured brick flooring and lush plantings. Carefully selected furnishings, along with wooden bleacher seating, allow the lobby to double as a hangout space.

On the office floors, one finds exposed structural elements and large ribbon windows.

Steel House features an indoor basketball court

"Raw yet refined materials and an open, flexible planning approach allow tenants to tailor their environments while remaining grounded in the building's distinct sense of place," the team said.

Sustainable elements include natural ventilation, daylighting and interior plantings.

The team incorporated a range of amenities inspired by the "wellness-focused lifestyle" prominent in Denver. These include an indoor sports court, a climbing wall, a yoga studio, a bike room with repair stations and luxury-style locker rooms.

Other projects in Denver's RiNo District include The Source Hotel by Dynia Architects, which consists of irregularly stacked volumes wrapped in metal. The studio also designed the nearby Zeppelin Station, a mixed-use building with a bright red wall that is meant to catch the eye of passing train travellers.

The photography is by Chase Daniel.

Project credits:

Architecture and interior design: Morris Adjmi Architects Landscape architecture: Future Green Studio Architect of record: Open Studio Architecture Developer/owner: Elevation Development Group, Beacon Capital Partners, MetLife