What was happening on 17th Street? Crane hoists 22,000-Ib boiler onto historic Denver building

DENVER (KDVR) — There are several construction projects underway in downtown Denver, with one project blocking parts of 17th and Stout Streets on Saturday morning while moving a 22,000-pound piece on top of the city’s most historic office building.

If you were heading downtown on Saturday, you may have been rerouted as a crane was helping move a boiler plant onto Equitable’s roof. This was to modernize the old building to make it run more efficiently and lower costs.

The Equitable is known as Denver’s most historic office building, according to Suter Media Relations. Constructed in 1892, the media team said it was the most modern office building west of Mississippi. Still standing, the building has an Italian marble and French onyx-laden lobby interior and Tiffany Glass, installed in 1896.

While it’s more than 130 years old, the media team said it’s still working to modernize the building owned by individual office users and managed by Elevate Real Estate Services, Inc.

Suter Media Relations said the building has been using steam heating, but the rates have risen by more than 50% of the building’s annual utility cost. After pressure from the city to convert its electricity, Elevate worked with Braconier, a mechanical engineering firm, to update the building to natural gas.

However, since it’s a historic landmark, the status required the team to find a place for its 22,000-pound boiler plant — ultimately deciding to put it on the roof.

This is one of many conversions for the building. Other improvements include modernizing the elevators, restoring the facade and replacing the fire alarm system.