The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club is a new luxury hotel in Aurora, the city outside of Denver known as the Gateway to the Rockies, and located on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and a part of the Fitzsimmons Innovation Community.
Situated midway between Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport, The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club was designed to serve as a community gathering space in a city that has evolved into Colorado’s biotech hub and a health and life sciences research center.
“We worked closely with our client, Aimco, and with the Fitzsimons Innovation Community, the University of Colorado, the City of Aurora, our design partners, and Hyder Construction to craft an inspiring and rejuvenating center of hospitality for the Anschutz Medical Campus,” said Tryba Architects’ Jeff Poorten, AIA, who managed the project.
The creative design is a collaboration between Tryba Architects and Avenue Interior Design. The seven-story hotel along Montview Boulevard is directly adjacent to Central Green. Upon entering the hotel, its lobby offers a cordial reception thanks to wood columns, beams, and inlaid terracotta tile floors. The furnishings were chosen to evoke a sense of traditional elegance, with leather and velvet materials and patterns that reflect the American West.
"Focusing on overall wellness and embracing the pioneering spirit of the West was at the forefront of the design narrative,” said Denise Pan, director of design & projects for Avenue Interior Design. That design narrative extends throughout the hotel's public spaces, including seven windowed boardrooms and a living room with multiple seating areas. Filled with abundant natural light, an expansive 3,800-square-foot ballroom anchored by two massive marble fireplaces opens out onto the Flower Garden, the hotel’s outdoor event space.
The distinctive look of The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club continues throughout the property’s food and beverage venues, each one of which has a unique identity.
It starts with the Lobby Bar, with its grand fireplace, floating bar, and jewel-toned color palette. A separate Lounge is designed with warm mahogany wood and brass accents, surrounded by rich teal paneled walls.
Aurora offers one of the state’s most diverse and creative food scenes thanks to more than 300 ethnic restaurants. The hotel’s restaurant, The Common Good reflects Colorado's rich history, beauty, and natural landscapes in a light-filled space that beckons diners to connect over local and seasonal offerings. The 100-seat restaurant features an open kitchen, generous leather booth seating, expansive wall-to-wall windows, and a wraparound outdoor terrace for alfresco dining.
On the second floor, the private, members-only Faculty Club lounge pairs collegiate flair with touches of Southwestern spirit. The club lounge features a double-sided bar and private patio with operable window walls.
The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club is home to the state's second-largest collection of Western art, featuring works from local artists with close ties to Colorado. The new collection is evocative of the living West, showcasing myriad facets of light and season, agriculture and nature, and the human condition. Each painting, photograph, sculpture, mural, and mosaic was commissioned for a specific location in the hotel.
The 106 guestrooms have been designed with four individualized design concepts, each highlighting elements of the hotel and its relationship with the University, as well as the natural landscapes of Colorado.
Decorative wood floor patterns, custom inset area rugs, and curated furnishings distinguish each room, while guest bathrooms feature bespoke design elements that embrace each scheme's character. For guests needing extended stays or simply the comforts of home, the hotel offers suites and studios with kitchenettes, separate dining rooms, and living areas, making it well sited for medical professionals and patients seeking a convenient place to stay.
Related Stories
Bar Harbor’s Waterfront Salt Cottages Unveils 10 New Rooms
Outrigger Adds Kaua‘i Beach Resort to Portfolio