Mayor’s Design Awards:
Viña Apartments
Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock honored 12 projects in the 2022 Mayor’s Design Awards, including Viña Apartments, a Norris Design project. The Mayor’s Design Awards recognize projects throughout the city for excellence in architecture, exterior design and placemaking.
Throughout my time in office, we have celebrated many creative, committed individuals who lift up our city through good design, and honoring their work is always one of my favorite occasions of the year, said Mayor Michael B. Hancock. This year’s winning projects continue a wonderful tradition of demonstrating how design can advance key city goals like housing, sustainability and economic development while celebrating our city’s identity, history and culture.
Viña is an affordable housing development in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood north of downtown Denver. This first phase of development focused on providing truly affordable housing, a local clinic and a grocery store for this underserved community. A central courtyard amenity was designed to accommodate both residents of Viña and the clinic next door. This colorful space features play elements, an open lawn, and a gathering space with outdoor grills, seating and a fire pit. The vibrant community features art in many forms, including a sculptural light feature at the entrance to the community courtyard, brightly colored site furnishings, lush plantings and custom murals by graffiti artist and muralist Jolt of Guerilla Garden. Future phases of development will focus on additional multifamily and senior housing opportunities, mixed-use, parking, office and retail.
I am so grateful we got to be a part of such an important and impactful project for this community. Viña truly represents a commitment to building healthy, sustainable communities. — Alyssa Butler, Senior Associate