Elsy Studios brings arts-focused design to Bonfils-Stanton Foundation headquarters
Elsy Studios, a Denver-based full-service commercial interior design firm, recently completed Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s new 2,764-square-foot headquarters at 1033 Santa Fe Drive in Denver.
“We collaborated with Hyder Construction on the adaptive reuse of this building a couple of years ago, so we were thrilled to get the call to partner with them again on the design and construction of the ground floor for the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation,” said Juliana Rini, senior project manager at Elsy Studios. “The space makes a huge visual impact, with 13 permanent art installations and a series of rotating pieces. The result is a true celebration of the local culture and Bonfils-Stanton’s community-facing mission.”
As the leading arts funding foundation in Denver, Bonfils-Stanton prioritized incorporating the works of local artists into its space. Permanent installations include work by several Denver artists such as Ramon Bonilla, Jodi Stuart, Deb Rosenbaum, Sandra Fettingis and 2018 Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s “Artist Award” Honoree Carlos Frésquez. Rotating pieces also will be featured from neighborhood organizations. The office currently features the work of Javier Flores of Access Gallery.
Neutral tones and timeless finishes provide the backdrop for highlighting this collection. Highly flexible programming allows the space to be sectioned off in several ways to allow the foundation’s team to host a variety of audiences.
“We saw this as an opportunity to position the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation in the heart of one of the most vibrant art districts in the nation,” said Gary Steuer, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation’s president and CEO. “Elsy Studios really helped us maximize the usability of our space, with beautiful areas for the local arts community to convene as well as ideal workspaces for our Foundation staff. We’re delighted with the results.”
Elsy Studios’ design team took care to maintain the exposed brick, concrete walls and wood ceilings that reflect the building’s industrial past. The original collaboration between Hyder Construction and Elsy Studios on the building’s adaptive reuse earned the building a 2019 Mayor’s Design Award.
Additional partners on the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation space included local art curation firm Nine dot Arts and commercial furniture dealer Merchants.
Published in the Oct. 21-Nov. 3, 2020, issue of CREJ.
