Foothills Art Center at the Astor House

Historic Preservation Board Re-Submission

05 / 25 / 2021

Golden’s historic Astor House has changed hands and adopted many identities over its 150 plus year history. It’s our honor to bring the Astor House into its next iteration as a lively public resource for our community through a wide variety of arts programming.

Thank you, Historic Preservation Commission, for your feedback at the May 2021 meeting. We listened to your feedback and revised our design accordingly. These suggestions included:

1. Consider a different facade material for the addition, one that is present or a modern interpretation of one present in the 12th Street Historic District. 2. Consider more defined faux or removable windows for the addition to provide flexibility for the space and lessen the massing.

3. Consider other architectural techniques to minimize the appearance of the massing of the addition.

4. Consider revising the floor plan of the addition to lessen the protrusion of the addition into the yard area.

In this packet, you will find these changes along with updated rendered views, floor plans, and building elevations. Additionally, we have demonstrated how we would propose using the eastern side of the historic Astor House, as suggested in the hearing.

Thank you again for your dedication to preserving this piece of history and considering Foothills Art Center’s plans for the rehabilitation and addition to the Astor House. This design continues to be driven by accessibility, education, and adding diversity to downtown Golden. We are inspired by how we can utilize Astor House for a present-day audience - and how it can be used to inspire and expand the creative minds of our future generations.

We look forward to continuing this discussion with you on June 7th!

Angela Schwab, Architect, Schwab & Daughterswith Ben Heppe, Historic Architect

on behalf ofFoothills Art Center, Executive Director Hassan Najjar, FAC Board of Directors, and Staff

Suggestion 1: Consider a different facade material for the addition, one that is present or a modern interpretation of one present in the 12th Street Historic District.

Response: Exterior material changed from perforated metal panel to brick.

Our team toured the adjacent 12th Street Historic District and noted the materials, forms, colors, and details present in the historic homes. We were charmed and inspired by the following details, which contribute to the historic neighborhood’s character. Our revised design updates the exterior material to a modern installation of traditional brick in a blend of whites and grays to complement the historic white-painted Astor House. Carefully placed decorative panels and pops of color are inspired by the neighborhood.

FAC + ASTOR HOUSEHPB response

05 / 25 / 21

Window InfillPops of Color Brick Patterns Ornamental Railing Decorative Panels Gable Ornament Carved Details Texture + Pattern

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1/8" = 1'-0"

ASTOR HOUSE

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS

NORTH ELEVATION

EAST ELEVATION

FAC + ASTOR HOUSEHPB response

05 / 25 / 21

Suggestion 2: Consider more defined faux or removable windows for the addition to provide flexibility for the space and to lessen the massing.

Response: Added real windows to allow for future use.

The revised design includes stronger references to the “two-over-two” windows on the existing west elevation of the Astor House. These four windows on the west elevation are the same size and proportion as the existing windows; while some of them will be walled over on the interior side in the galleries, they will be installed in a manner that if the future use of the Astor House changes, the interior drywall can be removed to expose the existing window, providing flexibility for future uses.

Suggestion 3: Consider other architectural techniques to minimize the appearance of the massing of the addition.

Response: Traditional building materials (brick and windows) added in complementary ways to minimize massing.

The appearance of the massing of the addition has been minimized with windows, architectural brick patterning, and an awning at the Arapahoe Street entrance.The new windows reference the existing windows on all sides of the addition; the window placement references the pattern on the original building, and maintains the horizontal lines of the existing window sills and window heads. On the east elevation, smaller windows reference the unique sizes and placement of existing windows on the east side of the Astor House, while also providing special captured views for visitors.

BRICK - 1894 STONE - 1867

1'-1"

2'-4"

1/8" = 1'-0"

ASTOR HOUSE

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS

SOUTH ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

36” x 60” 20” x 34”

30” x 60” 14” x 18”

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FAC + ASTOR HOUSEHPB response

05 / 25 / 21

Suggestion 4: Consider revising the floor plan of the addition to lessen the protrusion of the addition into the yard area.

Response: North elevation bump-out removed, “light touch” decreased, and restroom circulation optimized.

The protrusion of the addition into the yard has been decreased by three feet, six inches; the addition now stops at the current north end of the Wash House footprint (shown in gray). Every effort will be made to relocate the existing Oak tree within the Yard.

97'-2

"20

'-0"

22'-1

0"

51'-2"

97'-2

"

140'-

0" WASH HOUSE

DEMO WOOD FRAME ADDITION AND EXTERIOR STAIRS

60'-1

1"36

'-3"

30'-9

"5'-

6"

MECHANICAL

3'-6"

RELOCATE OAK TREE

scale 1” = 20’SITE PLAN + DEMO + DIMENSIONS 5

FAC + ASTOR HOUSEHPB response

05 / 25 / 21

Bonus suggestion: Consider building in the east courtyard, between the historic Astor House, Parking Lot, and the Addition.

Response: Proposed mechanical screen and 2nd level deck added.

The Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation to Historic Structures discourages new construction on a primary or secondary building elevation. During the May 3 HPB meeting, several board members expressed interest in utilizing the eastern courtyard. Construction in this courtyard is nearly impossible because of its proximity to the vulnerable 150+ year old rubble foundations; FAC’s Contractor and Structural Engineer (who has completed previous stabilization efforts on the Astor House) are not supportive of building in this area.

FAC proposes to enclose mechanical equipment in this area (as the space is currently being used), and suggests that an appropriate use for this area would be limited to a second-story deck. This would maintain the historic appearance of the east elevation, which is a main view of the building when approached from Washington Street, and would create special, elevated, outdoor space for the community to enjoy.

Schematic Massing of Addition in East Courtyard Ground-Floor Mechanical Screening and Second Level Deck

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FAC + ASTOR HOUSEHPB response

05 / 25 / 21

611 SFCOMMUNITY GALLERY 59 SF

RR 1

34 SFRR 2

61 SFRR 3

31 SFMOP

76 SFVEST.

108 SFLIGHT TOUCH

364 SF

TEACHINGKITCHEN

619 SF

CLASSROOM"DINING ROOM"

229 SF

CLASSROOM"PARLOR"

TYP.

139 SFENTRY

MECHANICAL

1036 SF2ND FLOOR GALLERY

119 SFLIGHT TOUCH

364 SFLOUNGE

887 SFARTIST OPEN STUDIO

EAST DECK

NORTH DECK

FLAT ROOF

FLAT ROOF

992 SFSTORAGE

41 SFWATER ENTRY

CONNECT TO NORTH BASEMENT

1/16" = 1'-0"

ASTOR HOUSE

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

PLANS

611 SFCOMMUNITY GALLERY59 SF

RR 1

34 SFRR 2

61 SFRR 3

31 SFMOP

76 SFVEST.

108 SFLIGHT TOUCH

364 SF

TEACHINGKITCHEN

619 SF

CLASSROOM"DINING ROOM"

229 SF

CLASSROOM"PARLOR"

TYP.

139 SFENTRY

MECHANICAL

1036 SF2ND FLOOR GALLERY

119 SFLIGHT TOUCH

364 SFLOUNGE

887 SFARTIST OPEN STUDIO

EAST DECK

NORTH DECK

FLAT ROOF

FLAT ROOF

992 SFSTORAGE

41 SFWATER ENTRY

CONNECT TO NORTH BASEMENT

1/16" = 1'-0"

ASTOR HOUSE

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

PLANS

ROOF 2ND FLOOR 1ST FLOOR BASEMENT

7

FAC + ASTOR HOUSEHPB response

05 / 25 / 21

BRICK - 1894 STONE - 1867

1'-1"

2'-4"

1/8" = 1'-0"

ASTOR HOUSE

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS

SOUTH ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION1/8” = 1’

1/8” = 1’

8

FAC + ASTOR HOUSEHPB response

05 / 25 / 21

1/8" = 1'-0"

ASTOR HOUSE

SCHEMATIC DESIGN

EXTERIOR ELEVATIONS

NORTH ELEVATION

EAST ELEVATION1/8” = 1’

1/8” = 1’

9

FAC + ASTOR HOUSEHPB response

05 / 25 / 21

SW View from 12th and Arapahoe

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FAC + ASTOR HOUSEHPB response

05 / 25 / 21

West Elevation | View from Arapahoe

Northeast View | View from Meyer Hardware and Miner’s Alley

North Elevation | View from Yard

East Elevation | View from Washington Avenue

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