Blake Mourer, co-founder and principal of Open Studio Architecture, has purchased a new headquarters building at 1120 Santa Fe Drive in Denver's Lincoln Park neighborhood for $1.4 million. The local architecture firm, known for designing office buildings in RiNo and Cherry Creek as well as the revamped Mighty Argo Gold Mill in Idaho Springs, will relocate from its current Ballpark location at 1010 Park Avenue in February.
When searching for a new office space, Mourer specifically sought out a property that wasn't move-in ready. "It was really less about location, more about finding the right asset," he explained. "It's looking for something that needed work, that I could improve." The firm had only occupied half of their previous building, which they built in 2018, before selling it to a small-scale hotelier this past spring.
The new 4,000-square-foot building, constructed in 2004, features what Mourer describes as "good bones" and comes with an impressive 3,500-square-foot patio complete with mature trees and a colonnade. The architect discussed the renovation plans during construction work at the property, outlining his vision for the space. "It'll be very much like you're hanging out in the lobby of a hotel – that's just warm, simple, clean," he said of the interior redesign.
The renovation plans include installing oak floors, mud-in lighting, and gypsum ceilings throughout the space. The basement will house a library, while the main floor will feature a kitchen, conference room, and two offices arranged around the perimeter. The central workspace will contain three rows of 8-foot-long oak tables, providing enough space for 18 people – significantly more than the company's current staff of about a dozen employees.
Mourer anticipates growth for his firm, projecting the addition of three to five new employees in 2026 based on current business momentum. "I don't know if that'll hold. There could be any number of things that would disrupt that," he cautioned. Public records indicate the renovation costs total $235,000, though Mourer declined to disclose the exact figure when asked.
The firm considered multiple locations throughout Denver's urban core during their search, including properties in LoHi and RiNo neighborhoods. "We like all those neighborhoods for different reasons. Of course, we wanted to be central enough that our employees didn't have too much of a new commute," Mourer noted. The Santa Fe Drive area particularly appealed to him because "Santa Fe is known for the arts and known for just being a pretty hip and vital kind of place. And so it's a nice change of pace."
Beyond immediate needs, Mourer also considered the property's future development potential when making the purchase. The site is zoned for up to 8 stories, creating opportunities for future expansion or redevelopment. This forward-thinking approach reflects the same vision that has made Open Studio Architecture successful in transforming spaces like the Mighty Argo Gold Mill, which will feature cable cars, an amphitheater, and retail space as a tourist attraction.
