Equitable Buidling c.1925 (Denver Public Library - used with permission)
Denver's architectural treasures are often overlooked, but the city posses some wonderful old buildings worth remembering.
The Equitable Building at 17th and Stout Streets was the first "high rise" built in Denver. Standing at the heart of what became Denver's financial district, the building came to be during the silver rush of the late 1800's.
Equitable Building 2009 (Hustvedt)
The nine-story structure was built in 1892 in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. Elaborate brickwork and terra cotta are found throughout the building's facade, creating a hierarchy of mass and form. The Equitable Building was billed as the finest office location in the city for many years.
Equitable Life Insurance company commissioned architects Andrews, Jacques and Rantoul to design the building. The back-to-back E shape footprint of the building provides a significant perimeter filled with window openings. The floor plan allows for maximum access to windows bringing in more natural light to corners of the building. More importantly, the design and numerous windows provided an abundance of ventilation.
The Equitable Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in January 1978.
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