Receive Weekly Email and Text Message Updates:
Sign up for latest info on concerts, dining, promotions and more!
Go!

Best bright idea downtown

Relighting the facade of the old Chamber of Commerce building
Relighting the facade of the old Chamber of Commerce building
1726 Champa St.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, people were so excited by the development of the electric light that they found applications for it that we can hardly imagine today, like attaching bare lightbulbs to oak beams. One forgotten device was bathing a building's facade in light after nightfall. When Silversmith Cohen began to rehab the old Chamber of Commerce building -- which was designed by Denver architects Marean and Norton in 1909 -- in order to turn it into the Chamber Apartments, they found, first in local history books, and then buried in the terra cotta on the building itself, a hidden indirect lighting system. But like the rest of the place, the wiring was decrepit. The system was refitted to state-of-the-art standards, and this spring, though the building itself isn't finished, the electricity was turned on again. Now this old-fashioned light show is one of downtown's brightest spots.

Best Of Search

Click here for Best Of Map

Best Of Issues - Previous Years

Latest Best Of User Comments

  • Best Sushi (1)
    2009-11-24 10:11:44
    Last night I had the distinct displeasure of eating at Sushi Den. The sushi was good and the...
  • Best Paint Store (1)
    2009-11-19 13:25:09
    Good store, but my vote for best store has to go to Bergen Park Paint because of their...
  • Best Mascot (1)
    2009-11-16 14:20:02
    Rocky looks like a awesome Mascot I would love to meet him
  • Best Indian Atmosphere (1)
    2009-11-11 22:19:56
    There is a nice Indian food restaurant a little south of this place called India's Castle. They...
  • Best Headline (1)
    2009-10-19 03:26:04
    Support of the Lou Zhu, Lou Zhu worked...

Best of Denver 2000 Award Graphics