Rite Aid

This highly visible retail store is located in the historic Neusteter's Building on the 16th Street Mall, downtown Denver's prime retail street. In it's original configuration the space included nearly two thousand square feet facing the street consisted of ornate freestanding display booths and marble walkways which could not be included in a retail lease. The design involved carefully dismantling the bronze glazing system and black marble curbs and reusing the components in a new way which echoed the open air configuration in a fully enclosed plan. The Landmarks Preservation Commission scrutinized each design detail, having rejected a previous architect's efforts, and finally approved the design that includes an incandescent lighting scheme to properly light the original reused materials. Elaborate plaster backdrops including cherubs and fruit were integrated with new checkout and display installations. A new set of red bronze clad automatic doors was inserted in the relocated glass walls and original wood doors were located to either side to improve the flow of customers in and out of the store. The project was published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in their booklet on recommended examples of drugstores in historic buildings.

1 2 3