The Foundry Honored as Finalist for 2021 ULI Impact Award

Last night, we celebrated the 2021 ULI Colorado IMPACT Awards at Seawell Ballroom in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The Foundry, a transformative new development in Loveland’s historic downtown, was among the finalists recognized this year. Our Urban Living + Mixed Use and Urban Design + Experience Design studios are proud to have been part of bringing this exciting project to life.

Nearly a decade in the making, The Foundry is a work of art that has revitalized three underutilized city blocks in the heart of Loveland with a special focus on supporting the vibrant art-centric culture of the city.

The name itself is a reflection of how Loveland has risen in prominence as a destination for art, especially sculpture, and a celebration of the local bronze foundries that cast many of the art pieces found here and around the world. From this foundation, our team focused our inspiration on the elements of a working foundry and its functions, informing the materials, colors, ­­­­and overall design of the redevelopment.

Working on a project this size provided the OZ team with the opportunity to approach placemaking on a large scale, looking beyond what happens within the walls of any single building and considering not just where people would live and work and explore, but how.

The development brings 155 much-needed residential units to the Loveland historic district, along with retail and dining, a hotel, movie theater, entertainment stage, and parking – everything needed for a great experience, whether you’re a visitor or a resident. But a large part of what makes The Foundry’s design so successful is that it also honors the fact that so much of life happens in the spaces between places.

Gathering insight from the community, we sought to create a strong sense of place in the public realm, with a central plaza located between two residential buildings and the heavily traveled streetscape it serves. This outdoor urban square became a primary feature of The Foundry design, creating a destination for families to gather and an active place for artists and performers to share their creativity.

Through a collaboration with the Loveland Downtown Partnership, the plaza offers free programming in the spring and summer, including community concerts, movie nights, and maker’s markets. The perimeter of the plaza includes Tivoli lights above outdoor walkways, seating areas, and firepits, creating a welcoming gathering place for community members. A multi-colored LED splash pad creates a unique focal point and play area for families during the warmer months.

Looking beyond the main thoroughfares, we additionally activated each of the alleyways connecting to the main urban square, opening up new possibilities for a different relationship between pedestrians and space.

To better accommodate the many new visitors to The Foundry, a public parking garage, now owned by the City, offers 460 spaces including reserved residential spaces. Adding to the arts-centric culture of Loveland, the garage features a vibrant mural commissioned by the City of Loveland. Utilizing nearly 200 different colors, the artist created a piece that celebrates Loveland’s iconic highlights.

By integrating new businesses into the base of the buildings, and bringing hundreds of new residents to the area, The Foundry creates a dynamic epicenter for the artistic soul of Loveland and positions downtown for future commercial and economic development.

A huge thank-you to our project partners Brinkmann, Brue Baukol Capital Partners, Colmena Group, City of Loveland, The Foundry Loveland Metropolitan District, Rand Construction, KL&A, Interwest Group, The Ballard Group, AE Design, BHA Design, Carl Walker, Inc, Jim Miller Architect, and Earth Engineering Consultants, LLC. We’re honored to be recognized among such an inspiring group of projects this year.