DENVER | Spiral Tower | 673 FT

DCReid · #1 Posted **Jul 30, 2025, 3:54 PM**

Details emerge on spiral tower proposed in downtown Denver

https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/...x_testVariant=cx_48&cx_artPos=7#cxrecs_s

ArchGuy1 · #2 Posted **Jul 30, 2025, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCReid

Details emerge on spiral tower proposed in downtown Denver

https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/...x_testVariant=cx_48&cx_artPos=7#cxrecs_s

Do you have the article to post here since it is hidden behind a paywall?

DCReid · #3 Posted **Jul 30, 2025, 11:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArchGuy1

Do you have the article to post here since it is hidden behind a paywall?

Unfortunately no, but found this article with more information.

https://www.9news.com/article/money/busi.../73-78c909cc-8771-4550-b173-c2746739c4a6

DCReid · #4 Posted **Jul 30, 2025, 11:29 PM**

Can a moderate edit the heading. According to an article I found, it will be 673 feet tall, so the proposed height can be added.

Here's another article -

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/plans-continue-673-foot-tall-190302326.html

Urbannizer · #5 Posted **Jul 31, 2025, 12:23 AM**

Did they produce this rendering two decades ago?

twister244 · #6 Posted **Jul 31, 2025, 1:22 AM**

This looks like a tree trunk with Christmas lights wrapped around it....... Pass.

KevinFromTexas · #7 Posted **Jul 31, 2025, 5:13 AM**

All of the sudden I feel like I should be climbing a beanstalk to catch the goose that laid the golden egg.

NYguy · #8 Posted **Jul 31, 2025, 3:57 PM**

• Video Link

ChiND · #9 Posted **Jul 31, 2025, 4:22 PM**

This looks absurd.

twister244 · #10 Posted **Jul 31, 2025, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYguy

Maybe Colorado should de-legalize weed..... My god this is horrible looking.

wong21fr · #11 Posted **Jul 31, 2025, 5:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by twister244

Maybe Colorado should de-legalize weed..... My god this is horrible looking.

Just make it a vertically integrated greenhouse and all the granola munchers will be all over it.

It does look quite stupid, like the Knoxville Sunsphere, but if it gets more tourists downtown....

mhays · #12 Posted **Jul 31, 2025, 9:50 PM**

I'll reiterate my skepticism from the local thread a while back. It's hard to imagine this making money. They're probably going for the local subsidies being handed out at the moment....maybe it would be feasible in that context.

That said, the concept isn't what I thought. Rather than elevators to top-level viewing levels, it would be "elevator" like windowed cars moving in the spiral pattern up the building. From the renderings it looks like two sets of tracks. It seems more like a ferris wheel experience vs. an observation tower.

This would eliminate much of the cost because it wouldn't need services at the top and wouldn't be top-heavy, allowing a much lighter structure (they describe light steel). Still it won't be cheap to build, or to buy a ticket. (From a nerd perspective I want to gaze at the view for 45 minutes, have a bathroom available, maybe buy a coffee...apparently not possible here.)

Part of my skepticism is that it's in the middle of Downtown where the views would be blocked by buildings. That goes double with much of the ride being at mid-height. A good viewing tower is usually off by itself. Further, Denver isn't particularly touristy or topographic.

The local firm wants to license a concept being offered by a third-party viewing-attraction company. I'd worry...if the goal is a civic icon and unique experience, what happens if the provider licenses other versions in other cities?

The company will also license shorter models. How about one in the 300-foot range by the civic center (away from the taller buildings) or maybe south of the S. Platte confluence (a new district being created plus a river to look at)? This would be much cheaper but probably have better views in either case.