712 Whalers Way
Bldg. B, Suite 100
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525

P: (970) 223-1820
F: (970) 223-1833

REHABILITATION & HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Heller Center for the Arts

Colorado Springs, Colorado · 2008-10
Client: University of Colorado

Master planning for the Heller Center for the Arts included archival research, historic structures assessment and site master planning for the 35-acre property. The 4-building complex was constructed over the period of 1935 to 1982, and includes the original house, guest house/greenhouse, gallery and barn. The property was bequeathed to the University with the intent of restoring the property for use as art studios, classrooms, artist-in-residence housing and community meeting space.

The $800,000 Phase 1 project restored the exterior of the main house to its circa 1948 appearance, rehabilitated the interior for use for small university classes and receptions, upgraded the utility infrastructure serving the property, and restored the terraced gardens at the main house.

The master plan for the Heller Center also proposed rehabilitating the remaining two buildings for use as retreat and seminar space for the University, reconstructing two missing buildings, incorporating outdoor classroom spaces and educational opportunities, and maintaining the natural landscape.

In addition to the initial master planning, Aller-Lingle-Massey Architects P.C. is providing full architectural and engineering design services for Phase 1 of the project.

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C & S Freight Depot Downtown Transit Center

The Downtown Transit Center is an historic rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the 1906 C&S Railroad Freight Depot into a new downtown multi-modal transit center for the City of Fort Collins, Colorado. Users include the local Transfort bus service and other regional carriers, taxi and airport shuttle services and office space for the City of Fort Collins' SMARTtrips program. The depot, the adjoining freight platform, and the gravesite of the railroad dog, Annie, are locally designated historic landmarks.

The administration portion of the depot was restored as office space, retaining historic materials and detailing, while creating a modern office environment. Light wells and transom windows were designed to honor the original window openings and capture natural light for interior offices.

The freight warehouse end of the building was more loosely adapted for ticketing, information, waiting and support spaces for the transit center uses. Much of the soaring volume of the warehouse was retained, with the exposed steel trusses reinforced and painted to enhance the architectural character of the space. The original lantern skylight was recreated atop the building, bathing the interior lobby spaces with natural light. Interior historical features were retained in the rehabilitation design, including the original freightmaster's office.

The exterior of the building was meticulously restored, including repointing brick masonry, refurbishing doors, windows and sectional freight doors with pulleys and hardware, and replacement of a variety of historic glasses.

New site structures were designed to complement the forms and materials of the historic depot. Bus shelters feature sloped roofs suspended by steel rods from brick and sandstone columns, reminiscent of the original gullwing canopies over the freight platform. A brick and sandstone colonnade, central clock tower and preservation of Annie's gravesite create an urban edge for the project along Mason Street.

Urban design elements and integral artwork reinforce the multi-modal aspects of the site by incorporating whimsical elements into the design, such as bicycle wheels in the site signage and a railroad track pattern in the transit center carpeting that "evolves" into bus tire tracks. Kinetic steel sculptures are also incorporated into the shelters as a part of the City's Art in Public Places program.

Professional services included programming and full architectural and engineering services.

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Rialto Theater Restoration

The Rialto Theater project involved the historic restoration of the 1920 Neo-Classical downtown landmark into a 550- seat theater and conference center. Working in conjunction with AE Design Associates, Aller · Lingle · Massey Architects P.C. painstakingly restored the Rialto to her previous glory, while creating new reception and concession lobbies and state-of-the-art projection and audio/visual rooms, not part of the original construction.

The theater had fallen into considerable disrepair since closing in the 1970s, including an ill-advised conversion into a retail mall. Scores of volunteers discovered pieces of the original theater intact during demolition, including the stained glass transom over the entrance doors and the 1920s era painted wall murals. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the restoration was guided and partially funded by the Colorado Historical Society.

Aller · Lingle · Massey Architects P.C. served as the prime architectural firm for the multi-phased stabilization and interior restoration of the theater, with AE Design Associates responsible for initial programming, market feasibility and restoration of the terra cotta facade

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