1900 Lawrence Street
Nearly four decades after making what was then a bold move into Lower Downtown, the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority is preparing for another major change to its Denver headquarters.
New construction documents provide the first detailed look inside CHFA's future office at 1900 Lawrence Street, where the organization plans to relocate in 2027 from its longtime headquarters at 1981 Blake Street. The move closes an important chapter in LoDo history.
CHFA purchased the Blake Street property in 1989, six years before Coors Field opened just steps away. At the time, Lower Downtown looked very different than it does today. CHFA describes the neighborhood as having been in significant need of renewal when it arrived and credits its headquarters with providing a stable anchor as more businesses moved into the area.
In hindsight, the timing proved remarkable. Coors Field opened in 1995 and became one of the major catalysts for the transformation of LoDo and the surrounding Ballpark neighborhood. What may have looked like an unconventional office location in 1989 ultimately placed CHFA beside one of Denver's most recognizable destinations as the surrounding blocks filled with restaurants, hotels, apartments and businesses.
Now CHFA is preparing to trade that standalone headquarters for space in one of downtown Denver's newest office towers. Plans filed with the city show CHFA building out approximately 25,132 square feet on the 17th floor of 1900 Lawrence. The layout includes several large open-office areas, private offices, focus rooms, conference rooms, a reception area, a breakroom and a large multipurpose space. The design points to a more flexible workplace than CHFA's existing headquarters. Renderings show warm wood finishes, glass-walled meeting rooms, a contemporary reception area and large shared spaces where employees can gather and collaborate.
OZ Architecture is designing the space, with Rand Construction serving as general contractor. Permit documents place the construction valuation at approximately $3.8 million.
CHFA has previously said it expects to occupy roughly 30,000 square feet at 1900 Lawrence, significantly less than its approximately 73,000-square-foot Blake Street property. The current headquarters was listed for sale earlier this year with an asking price of $17.9 million
The downsizing reflects a broader shift in how organizations use office space. Rather than maintaining a large standalone headquarters, CHFA is consolidating into a newer building with a floor plan designed around hybrid work, shared spaces and collaboration.
The relocation also bookends the organization's downtown history. In 1989, CHFA moved into a part of Denver that had yet to see the wave of investment that would reshape LoDo. Nearly 40 years later, it is leaving that property after watching an entire neighborhood grow up around it, moving a few blocks deeper into downtown as 1900 Lawrence works to fill one of the city's newest office towers. The new headquarters is expected to open in 2027.