Denver, May 7, 2024 - Colorado Public Radio today announced it has chosen Semple Brown as the architecture firm for its new headquarters at 777 Grant St. in Denver. Semple Brown was chosen to transform the building after a rigorous process focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; accessibility; climate and sustainability; wellbeing for employees, visitors and guests; and community.
“Semple Brown brings a diverse team with the right experience and a strong understanding of CPR,” said Jenny Gentry, chief operating officer. “We appreciated their thorough and thoughtful responses to our feedback throughout this discovery stage, and we look forward to diving into the next phase of the project.”
Discussions about how to view the architect procurement process began last August, when the building was purchased. CPR hired Artaic Group to serve as owner’s representative and guide the process while keeping it aligned to CPR’s values, which included securing a Colorado-based firm.
"Our team is thrilled to join CPR to enhance the cultural and civic vitality of Colorado," said Chris Wineman, principal at Semple Brown. "This unique project blends our experience with workplace design, cultural facility design and public event design. The more that we can support the staff members at CPR to have a highly functional and dynamic workspace, the more that they can be a catalyst for community conversations and creativity."
“We are so fortunate to be part of an iconic project that is also grassroots and community-based,” John Bills, principal at Artaic Group, said. “It’s been very rewarding to work with the CPR staff; and board and community members through selecting a design team. Their passion and inquisitive nature has really created a great environment to make tough and well-informed decisions.”
Now that Semple Brown has been secured, the next steps are to begin the design and permitting process, issue a Request for Proposal for a general contractor and build on initial fundraising efforts. CPR expects to provide further updates, including announcements of donors for this project, when initial designs are ready later this year.
Once complete, the CPR headquarters at 777 Grant will be the hub of CPR’s effort to become Colorado’s home institution for news. The space will be accessible and welcoming to the community, hosting vital conversations, performances from local musicians and other live events.
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About Colorado Public Radio
Colorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization delivering meaningful news, music, and cultural experiences to everyone in Colorado using the power of the human voice in all its forms. Roughly 95 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations. For more information, visit www.cpr.org.
- CPR News delivers in-depth, insightful and impartial news and information from around the world, across the nation and throughout Colorado, examining its relevance to our state and connecting it to our community.
- CPR Classical takes listeners on an in-depth exploration of thoughtfully curated music – with an emphasis on Colorado’s classical community – providing context to a broad range of meaningful and compelling works from past to present.
- Indie 102.3 takes listeners inside the world of new and independent music – exposing them to up-and-coming artists and highlighting Colorado’s local music scene.
- Denverite is an online news source dedicated to Denver's curious and concerned.
- KRCC is a public radio station in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving Southern Colorado. KRCC is operated by Colorado Public Radio in partnership with Colorado College.
