Venture Architecture founder Martin Goldstein stands outside the firm’s existing office building. (Maia Luem/BusinessDen)
Venture Architecture has designed other companies’ office spaces for nearly two decades.
But its latest project is designing its own.
“It was really fun to design for ourselves for once, our own product for ourselves,” founder Martin Goldstein said.
The 53-year-old Philadelphia native moved to Denver in 1992 to go to graduate school and, after working for larger firms, started Venture Architecture in 2006.
“Architecture kind of found me, grabbed me and I haven’t been able to let go of it yet,” he said.
A year later, he bought Venture’s 850-square-f00t office building at 535 E. Mexico Ave. in Platt Park, once a gas station, for $340,000. At the time, the firm consisted of Goldstein and his co-founder, so the small, one-story building was all they needed.
But now, Venture has 10 employees working nearly every day in the office, and Goldstein is looking to add five to 10 more.
“We’re grateful for it. And I’m going to miss it terribly,” Goldstein said of the building. “However, it served a useful life, and we needed a bigger space to grow into.”
Venture Architecture’s existing office building at the corner of Pearl Street and Mexico Avenue. (Courtesy Venture Architecture)
Goldstein wasn’t interested in leaving the neighborhood or trying to find a new building to move into, so five years ago he applied to get the property rezoned so he could redevelop it.
“A neighborhood like this, to be able to walk down and grab a slice of pizza and catch your breath is really helpful for us,” he said. “This has been a nice home for us.”
The rezoning approved last year allows a two-story office building. Goldstein said each story will be about 1,500 square feet, with an open floor plan and no private offices. There will be hardwood floors, large windows for natural light and an outdoor patio.
The new address will be 1691 S. Pearl St. because the front door will shift to face Pearl Street. Goldstein said Venture is still in the permitting process.
A rendering of Venture Architecture’s new office building slated for 1691 S. Pearl St. in Denver. (Courtesy Venture Architecture)
When designing an office space for its clients, Goldstein said Venture immerses themselves in the office culture to learn what matters most to the people — and the process was no different for the firm’s own space.
“Our internal tagline is a more meaningful space and the secret to that is learning what’s meaningful to the people,” Goldstein said. “Every project starts off with a really big appetite, we’re going to go to the buffet and get a little bit of everything. And then variably kind of winnow it down to what matters.”
Goldstein and Venture Architecture have designed buildings like the Professional Bull Riders Inc. headquarters in Pueblo and Crocs’ headquarters in Broomfield. In addition to offices, Venture designs multifamily and private education buildings, such as the International School of Denver.
“While the markets seem very different, the reality is the same,” Goldstein said. “They’re all based on the human experience, and we all need a place to go.”
Venture Architecture founder Martin Goldstein stands outside the firm’s existing office building. (Maia Luem/BusinessDen)
Venture Architecture has designed other companies’ office spaces for nearly two decades.
But its latest project is designing its own.
“It was really fun to design for ourselves for once, our own product for ourselves,” founder Martin Goldstein said.
The 53-year-old Philadelphia native moved to Denver in 1992 to go to graduate school and, after working for larger firms, started Venture Architecture in 2006.
“Architecture kind of found me, grabbed me and I haven’t been able to let go of it yet,” he said.
A year later, he bought Venture’s 850-square-f00t office building at 535 E. Mexico Ave. in Platt Park, once a gas station, for $340,000. At the time, the firm consisted of Goldstein and his co-founder, so the small, one-story building was all they needed.
But now, Venture has 10 employees working nearly every day in the office, and Goldstein is looking to add five to 10 more.
“We’re grateful for it. And I’m going to miss it terribly,” Goldstein said of the building. “However, it served a useful life, and we needed a bigger space to grow into.”
Venture Architecture’s existing office building at the corner of Pearl Street and Mexico Avenue. (Courtesy Venture Architecture)
Goldstein wasn’t interested in leaving the neighborhood or trying to find a new building to move into, so five years ago he applied to get the property rezoned so he could redevelop it.
“A neighborhood like this, to be able to walk down and grab a slice of pizza and catch your breath is really helpful for us,” he said. “This has been a nice home for us.”
The rezoning approved last year allows a two-story office building. Goldstein said each story will be about 1,500 square feet, with an open floor plan and no private offices. There will be hardwood floors, large windows for natural light and an outdoor patio.
The new address will be 1691 S. Pearl St. because the front door will shift to face Pearl Street. Goldstein said Venture is still in the permitting process.
A rendering of Venture Architecture’s new office building slated for 1691 S. Pearl St. in Denver. (Courtesy Venture Architecture)
When designing an office space for its clients, Goldstein said Venture immerses themselves in the office culture to learn what matters most to the people — and the process was no different for the firm’s own space.
“Our internal tagline is a more meaningful space and the secret to that is learning what’s meaningful to the people,” Goldstein said. “Every project starts off with a really big appetite, we’re going to go to the buffet and get a little bit of everything. And then variably kind of winnow it down to what matters.”
Goldstein and Venture Architecture have designed buildings like the Professional Bull Riders Inc. headquarters in Pueblo and Crocs’ headquarters in Broomfield. In addition to offices, Venture designs multifamily and private education buildings, such as the International School of Denver.
“While the markets seem very different, the reality is the same,” Goldstein said. “They’re all based on the human experience, and we all need a place to go.”
