Sky-high observation tower pitched for downtown Denver
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The downtown Denver skyline pictured in May. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
A spiraling 673-foot observation tower could soon twist its way into Denver's skyline — if the city gives it the green light.
Why it matters: The structure would be unlike anything else in Denver or the state, rivaling iconic landmarks like Seattle's Space Needle (605 feet) and Dallas' Reunion Tower (561 feet).
Zoom in: Plans submitted this week — first reported by the Denver Business Journal— outline a sculptural, lattice-wrapped spire with an orb at the top. It would be located at 1546 California St., less than a block from 16th Street.
- Developer Ephraim LLC is behind the project, per city records reviewed by Axios Denver.
- The parcel is currently a parking lot.
What they're saying: The applicant, Barry Gilbert with Denver-based construction real estate firm NAI Shames Makovsky, declined Axios Denver's request for comment.
By the numbers: At 673 feet, the tower would become Denver's fourth-tallest building, trailing only:
- Republic Plaza (714 feet)
- 1801 California St. (709 feet)
- Wells Fargo Center, known as the Cash Register Building (698 feet)
The fine print: Because the site is within a designated historic district, or possibly a landmark itself, records show the city's Landmark Preservation office must sign off on the design before any permits are issued — meaning it will face extra scrutiny.
Flashback: In 2017, a 90-story skyscraper — and later, a scaled-back 81-story version — was pitched two blocks north, DBJ reports. It was never built.