Golden's historic CoorsTek site is undergoing one of Colorado's most ambitious redevelopment projects yet!

The 16 acre campus at the base of the Rockies will become Clayworks, a million square foot mixed-use district developed by AC Development Company, a Coors family venture.

The history of the site dates back to 1876, when Adolf Coors founded a glassworks factory here to supply bottles for the Coors Brewery. Over time, the company pivoted to ceramics, pioneering laboratory-grade products after World War I and becoming the world's leading manufacturer of technical ceramics during World War II.

By the 21st century, CoorTek had established itself as a global leader in ceramics, before decommissioning its long-running Golden facility in 2022.

The 16-acre master plan calls for a mix of 600,000–700,000 square feet of office space, 550 multifamily units, a 150 room hotel and conference center, and multiple retail and restaurant offerings. AC Development expects the hotel project and 3 additional restaurant spaces to fill a major gap in Golden’s hospitality market, meeting a long-recognized demand for lodging in the area.

Early phases are centered around a 90,000-square-foot global CoorsTek headquarters, which will occupy most of the first new building, while additional office space is being marketed to innovative companies with a focus on health, wellness, and community to lease.

A new 8th Street connection will tie the district into Golden’s downtown, with public walkways, terraces, and a central water feature creating a seamless extension of the community.

While multifamily housing will be phased in later, likely in several years, accelerated by Governor Jared Polis’s recent housing legislation, the entire master plan is expected to take 10–15 years to reach full completion.

The Clayworks team has worked through more than 100 development meetings with the City of Golden, establishing a unique zoning district that emphasizes sustainability, wellness, and community access.

The first office building, designed by Tryba Architects, will achieve LEED Gold and either WELL or Fitwel certification, with a focus on reducing energy demand and carbon emissions. It will be fully electric and powered by 32 geothermal wells, supported by a grant from the State of Colorado, making it one of the most advanced office buildings in the state.

An ETFE skylight system will maximize natural light, while nanawall folding walls will create indoor-outdoor connections to roof terraces on the second and fourth floors.

Clayworks is designed with community integration in mind.

More than 40% of the land is set aside as open space, double Golden’s requirement, ensuring that plazas, terraces, and courtyards remain accessible to the public. This commitment extends beyond design.

The project’s guiding principles, health and wellness, history and legacy, community and lifestyle, craft and quality, and innovation and discovery, reflect its ambition to serve both local residents and global innovators.

For Golden, Clayworks represents a transformation that balances its small-town roots with international influence. By blending CoorsTek’s legacy with sustainability-forward design, AC Development is positioning the site as not just a corporate headquarters, but as a cultural, residential, and economic anchor for the region.

As construction advances in phases, Clayworks will evolve into a neighborhood where residents, workers, and visitors converge, an everyday destination built on more than 140 years of history.