Denver's Union Station will reopen on July 12th, 100 years after the last major remodel in July 0f 1914. While the last renovation certainly saw vast improvements for the time, today's Union Station is poised for the future of multi-modal transportation, including light rail, bus systems and train lines. While the historic building was painstakingly preserved, the new Union Station will also boast the finest amenities, retail shops and restaurants in the great hall.
The redevelopment is the result of efforts by the Union Station Alliance, which includes Larimer Associates, Sage Hospitality, Dana Crawford and McWhinney. They worked in conjunction to create an experience they refer to as the Living Room of Denver, where the best experiences of the mile high city converge all in one place, right where visitors step off the train.
In this week's show, we speak with Chad McWhinney, Co-Founder and CEO of McWhinney, the development company responsible for the twenty-eight thousand square feet of retail and dining space at Union Station. They were very selective in their choice of proprietors to fill the space.
"We went and literally handpicked everyone that is in the building. We specifically wanted to avoid the national chains and we wanted to create an incredible experience." McWhinney explains, "So the idea is, when you get off those trains and you walk into Union Station, we wanted it to be the best of Colorado."
When Union Station first opened in 1881, it became one of the liveliest spots in town. McWhinney is dedicated to bring that feeling back, with the revitalized Union Station and future development in the Z Block - between 18th and 19th streets, Wazee and Blake, where we can expect new office space and ground floor retail space mixed in with the historic buildings of the old Windsor Dairy Block.
Be sure to listen for more about the improvements at Union Station on Saturday at 10:00 AM on KNUS 710. Please let us know what you think of our program, either by commenting here or on Facebook at Connect & Collaborate with ICOSA or join the discussion on Twitter @ICOSAMagazine.
