A Vibrant New Public Realm for Denver
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, Ball Arena Masterplan
Housing and Mixed Use, Urbanism and Landscapes, Sports and Human Performance
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is creating a new, urban neighborhood and unique regional destination around Ball Arena, home of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Mammoth.
The 55-acre KSE-Ball Arena Redevelopment project proposes between 10 to 12 million square feet of mixed-use, office, retail, and residential space. It will prioritize inclusivity, sustainability, and affordable housing in its design. The project will replace existing land currently used as parking lots and will better connect Ball Arena to Lower Downtown Denver, Auraria Campus, and the future River Mile development.
ZGF has been in collaboration with SAR +, Wenk Associates and Martin|Martin on the masterplan, infrastructure masterplan and Phase 1 concepts. This team successfully completed the City of Denver’s Large Development Review and Large Development Framework processes which supported KSE in the rezoning effort. The project is currently underway with the Infrastructure Masterplan.
Location
Denver, Colorado
Project Component
Infrastructure Planning
Master Planning
Urban Design
The redevelopment plan seeks to create a vibrant public realm and park system that offers new recreation opportunities not currently available in Downtown Denver, with focus on downtown green space. The plan includes over twenty percent of the land area dedicated to parks and open spaces, the crown jewel of which will be a three-acre, signature park which will support pre-game events, outdoor concerts, performances and seasonal activities.
The plan creates a lively street corridor along Wynkoop Street, boasting wide, tree-lined sidewalks to support active ground floor commercial uses, shopping, food/beverage, art, and daily life. The corridor will include protected bike lanes that will tie into the 5280 Loop.
At full buildout, the KSE-Ball Arena Redevelopment will serve as a connector of neighborhoods by stitching together isolated areas of the City and healing physical barriers by emphasizing connectivity, inclusivity, and access for all.
The plan overcomes transportation barriers and connects future growth areas in Denver to the Downtown and Auraria Campus site by proposing six pedestrian/pike bridges. The pedestrian bridges and connection to the greater Denver downtown is intended to boost the city’s affordable housing stock and enable safe and pedestrian-friendly experiences downtown for anyone moving through the city without a car. The Wynkoop Crossing over Speer Boulevard in particular will be an iconic gateway, providing critical connections between the Ball site and LODO, and to existing parks and open spaces along Cherry Creek.
