<strong>Living the high life: </strong>Denver's Stapleton International Airport closed in 1995 and all the buildings were demolished -- except one: the air traffic control tower. Now this iconic Colorado building has been transformed into an outpost of Denver-based "eatertainment" company Punch Bowl Social.
Living the high life: Denver's Stapleton International Airport closed in 1995 and all the buildings were demolished -- except one: the air traffic control tower. Now this iconic Colorado building has been transformed into an outpost of Denver-based "eatertainment" company Punch Bowl Social.
Courtesy Amber Boutwell, Punch Bowl Social
<strong>Entertainment in the skies: </strong>The company's<strong> </strong>outlets combine diner-style food, bowling, karaoke and more. "It was an exciting opportunity to give back to our home state of Colorado," Robert Thompson, founder and CEO of Punch Bowl, tells CNN Travel. Pictured here: the building's transformation in progress.
Entertainment in the skies: The company's outlets combine diner-style food, bowling, karaoke and more. "It was an exciting opportunity to give back to our home state of Colorado," Robert Thompson, founder and CEO of Punch Bowl, tells CNN Travel. Pictured here: the building's transformation in progress.
Amber Boutwell, Punch Bowl Social
<strong>Giving back to Denver: </strong>Punch Bowl is an award-winning, millennial-focused brand with a penchant for creativity and regeneration. "Until we partnered with Punch Bowl Social," says Stone, managing principal of OZ Architecture. "No one had ever brought a feasible idea to the table."
Giving back to Denver: Punch Bowl is an award-winning, millennial-focused brand with a penchant for creativity and regeneration. "Until we partnered with Punch Bowl Social," says Stone, managing principal of OZ Architecture. "No one had ever brought a feasible idea to the table."
Courtesy Amber Boutwell, Punch Bowl Social
<strong>Rewarding challenge: </strong>The reinvention project was a rewarding challenge for Thompson and his team. "Maintaining [the tower's] height and design honors its historic significance, but the height and design was also limiting in some ways, so we needed to develop more creative and unusual ideas for how to use the space," says Rebecca Stone, Managing Principal at OZ Architecture, who worked on the project.
Rewarding challenge: The reinvention project was a rewarding challenge for Thompson and his team. "Maintaining [the tower's] height and design honors its historic significance, but the height and design was also limiting in some ways, so we needed to develop more creative and unusual ideas for how to use the space," says Rebecca Stone, Managing Principal at OZ Architecture, who worked on the project.
Courtesy Amber Boutwell, Punch Bowl Social
<strong>Design-led project:</strong> "We were also excited from a commercial standpoint about how we could apply our concept model blending entertainment, scratch kitchen and craft beverage -- altogether in a design-led environment in such a great building," adds Thompson.
Design-led project: "We were also excited from a commercial standpoint about how we could apply our concept model blending entertainment, scratch kitchen and craft beverage -- altogether in a design-led environment in such a great building," adds Thompson.
Courtesy Amber Boutwell, Punch Bowl Social
<strong>Stunning views:</strong> The newly renovated tower harks back to its past with aviation-orientated cocktails and stunning views of the former airport below. "There is a light fixture that subtly includes the roman numerals of the date Stapleton Airport opened, and the dining room tables are designed in a way that when pushed together offer an abstract image of a runway," says Stone.
Stunning views: The newly renovated tower harks back to its past with aviation-orientated cocktails and stunning views of the former airport below. "There is a light fixture that subtly includes the roman numerals of the date Stapleton Airport opened, and the dining room tables are designed in a way that when pushed together offer an abstract image of a runway," says Stone.
Courtesy Amber Boutwell, Punch Bowl Social
<strong>Flashback to the future:</strong> Other hark backs include "custom wall coverings representing the view from 30,000 feet, as well as a hostess stand made from vintage steamer trunks, and a staircase railing with airplane cutouts," adds Stone. Pictured here: the airport tower when the airport was operational.
Flashback to the future: Other hark backs include "custom wall coverings representing the view from 30,000 feet, as well as a hostess stand made from vintage steamer trunks, and a staircase railing with airplane cutouts," adds Stone. Pictured here: the airport tower when the airport was operational.
Courtesy Denver Aviation System
<strong>Long time coming:</strong> Stapleton Tower reopened its doors in November 2017 -- 22 years after it closed. The renovation took three years to get off the ground. "The design required enormous attention to the integrity and space of the building itself," says Stone. "As well as the expertise to get it through the inevitable hurdles."
Long time coming: Stapleton Tower reopened its doors in November 2017 -- 22 years after it closed. The renovation took three years to get off the ground. "The design required enormous attention to the integrity and space of the building itself," says Stone. "As well as the expertise to get it through the inevitable hurdles."
Courtesy Amber Boutwell, Punch Bowl Social