Trammell Crow Co.

Trammell Crow Co. has developed downtown landmarks from LoDo to Civic Center

By Chryss Cada

Bill Mosher has been around the blocks.

The Trammell Crow Co. principal has had a hand in the development of downtown Denver for more than three decades.

(Photo by Terry Shapiro)

Mosher came to Trammell Crow after two years heading his own company, Mosher Sullivan Development Partners LLC, developer of the Denver Newspaper Agency building in downtown Denver. He was also co-owner of Mile High Development LLC, where he spearheaded development of the City and County of Denver’s Wellington E. Webb Office Building.

Before that, Mosher oversaw the building of downtown Denver’s 1,100-room Hyatt Regency convention hotel. He also did a stint as the president of the Downtown Denver Partnership Inc.

Now with Trammell Crow and developing one of the tallest new office buildings to be added to the city’s skyline in nearly 20 years, his impact is more visible than ever. The building, called 1900 16th St., will offer 18 floors of office space directly across from Denver Union Station in Lower Downtown. It is slated for completion in September.

The master plan for the site also includes a 1,200-space parking garage and a 10-story, 250,000-sq-ft tower planned at 16th Street near the light rail tracks at the base of the Millennium Bridge.

“Bill is a great friend for downtown Denver,” says Brian Phetteplace, manager of retail and residential development for the Downtown Denver Partnership. “He gets downtown and knows how to take advantage of its assets and amenities.”

(Photo by Terry Shapiro)

The biggest asset of 1900 16th St. is its location. It overlooks the coming redevelopment of Union Station into the region’s transit hub. All of the city’s major light rail lines and express buses will eventually converge at the station, a move that is expected to re-energize downtown.

“This will be the most significant office space located near light rail,” says Phetteplace. “It’s futuristic in terms of office spaces proximity to transportation.”

Mosher agrees that the redevelopment of Union Station will have a great impact on the area.

“Union Station is the generation-changing project for Denver,” he says. “We’ve spent a lot of time and money building magnets such as the stadiums and the convention center to bring people downtown, but a transportation hub will forever change how we use downtown.” 

Multiple Phases But because of the recession, the office project’s timing is uncertain. Trammell Crow did the master plan for all three phases of 1900 16th St. without knowing when the final phases will be built. The project is financed by the Multi-Employer Property Trust, which makes it 100% labor financed and constructed. It was designed by Denver’s Tryba Architects.

(Photo by Terry Shapiro)

“This is a huge master plan effort with a complicated design,” Mosher says.  “It’s our job to be sure that when they come back to complete the project, everything that’s already in place is done right.”

Jim Stemel, senior project manager at 1900 16th St. for general contractor Saunders Construction of Centennial says: “Trammell Crow has the knowledge to really understand the priorities of the contractor. They know that the ultimate goal is to get the building done within the schedule and the budget. They assist or push different parties as needed.”

With his eye to the future, Mosher adds: “We are in the business of place-making and community building. This project will be long-lasting; it has good design that takes into account pedestrian values and it fits into the overall fabric of downtown.”

advertisement

Bill Mosher
Area Director & Principal
Trammell Crow Co.

Age 58

Years as a developer Off and on since the ‘70s

Education Master’s degree in urban planning, University of Arizona

Hometown Denver

Important projects City and County of Denver’s Wellington E. Webb Office Building, Hyatt Convention Center Hotel, Denver Newspaper Agency

Current market challenges Lack of market, lack of capital. Mosher says it will take three to five years to loosen the capital market and businesses to expand enough to fuel a need for new office space.