Colorado Brewery

Setting the Scene
This brewery sits in suburban Aurora among many growing neighborhoods and at the edge of Eastern Colorado’s expansive prairie. The owners wanted to craft a building with a strong sense of identity and place — something cool and unique that could anchor the otherwise-elusive character of its surroundings.

Making It Happen
Our budget was tight. This was a blessing in disguise that drove us towards something beautiful and iconic: a super-extruded quonset hut.

This building type was a pre-fab metal arch system originally developed by the military for quick and cheap assembly in far flung places. For us, it alluded to the military and aviation industries that were deeply enmeshed in the Aurora community. It also alluded to Denver International Airport just to the north. And maybe — if you squinted just so — it could be reminiscent of a beer can or keg.

Energy modeling helped us determine the optimal orientation on this wide open landscape. The use of spray foam insulation further made this barrel-vaulted structure a beacon of sustainability. With no odd corners, joints, thermal bridging or material interfaces and few penetrations, this building might be less like a beer can and more like a coffee thermos. Regardless, it was built to be a vessel for cold beer, good times, and great community.