MAD Architects Break Ground on Third U.S. Project in Denver

MAD Architects, the global design studio renowned for its immersive environments, is breaking ground on its first residential rental project in North America. The residential tower, One River North, is a 16-story building with 187 for-lease residences situated in Denver's River North District. The tower will feature 13,352 square feet of open-air amenity environments, including rippling water elements and a landscaped, trail-like walkway that traverses four floors. Additionally, the tower will include a 6,813-square-foot rooftop terrace with a pool, spa, and garden framed by dramatic Rocky Mountain views. One River North will also include 7,995 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

The most striking feature of One River North is a 10-story landscaped rift that defines its exterior, inspired by Colorado's diverse biomes. The rift recalls the experience of ascending from the foothills to the trail and canyon, to reaching the alpine plateau. This unparalleled experience increases resident views and blends nature into the urban landscape.

The design of One River North draws from the rich Colorado landscape to echo the experience of climbing mountainous terrain. By blurring the lines between the built and natural environments, the project fuses the functionality of urban density with the artistic idealization of the natural landscape to compose a "future city" that maintains the human spirit and emotion at its core.

The glass façade of One River North is ribbed with louvres that regulate sunlight and soften its visual presence, shaping a serene retreat in the sky. The building features a cascading canyon that appears to "carve" into the building's façade, as if by natural forces, cementing the firm's growing international footprint, particularly in the States. The design is influenced by Colorado's legendary landforms and merges nature and architecture to inspire a well-balanced life.

According to Ma Yansong, MAD Founder and Principal Partner, "If we regard modern cities as man-made landscapes on the earth, we need to design canyons, woods, creeks, and waterfalls, transforming concrete forests into second nature." One River North is the model for how we should be living, surrounding ourselves in the natural environment, bringing nature into our homes, and creating authentic, biophilic experiences coupled with modern comforts and conveniences.

The development team of One River North, the first residential rental project in North America by the world-renowned architectural firm MAD Architects, revealed the designs of a revolutionary tower set to redefine urban living. The project broke ground in the Fall of 2021 and is slated for completion in Q4 of 2023. Situated at 40th and Blake Streets on the northeast edge of RiNo and near the 38th and Blake light rail station, One River North anchors a new wave of taller buildings shaping a bold new vision for Denver's art-influenced RiNo district.

Founded in 2004, MAD Architects is a global studio that designs immersive environments that connect visitors to nature and prioritize emotional responses to the set. One River North is MAD's third project to break ground in the United States, joining the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which is currently under construction in Los Angeles, and Gardenhouse, which opened in Los Angeles in 2020. One River North is the latest project in the studio's ongoing efforts to create architecture that promotes the well-being of its inhabitants while drawing inspiration from the natural environment.