In 2018, long before the Marshall Fire and even Covid-19 my KTGY team and I explored one big question: how do you create a true sense of place and community from 156 acres of land? Superior is a small, successful and independent community, but it has never had a true central gathering place. For our early concept, we realized that making a successful downtown would hinge on fully understanding the character and history of Superior.
Our goal was to design a place that would be authentic and integrated with its surroundings. We also recognized the importance of appealing to a wide range of residents across different demographics. Gaining the support and enthusiasm of the Superior community was essential; we did this by listening closely to what mattered to them and thoughtfully incorporating meaningful amenities that would foster connection and belonging. It was through several meetings with the Town of Superior where we received feedback from the residents and the city officials that the final design for this community took shape.
The first step in our process was to dive into the history of Superior to understand what drives its people. The town is named for the superior quality of coal found in the area and we saw this as an opportunity to let these mining roots guide our design. From building massing to materiality and color palette, we focused on ensuring the architecture reflected this rich heritage. The design prioritizes strong, durable materials and a rich, timeless color scheme, but it looks to Superior’s future with sustainable, LEED certified buildings. The overall concept became the creation of a planned development that feels like it evolved spontaneously. This direction helped ground the project in its setting and reinforce the authenticity that was key to invoking the right sense of place.
The next step in fostering community was to design amenities that encourage connection and shared experiences. Some are small and intimate, like the pathways and walkable sidewalks nestled between buildings; quiet moments offering opportunities for casual interaction. Others are more prominent, such as a central public plaza, a dedicated community event space and a flexible pop-up retail structure within the plaza. Overall, there are 42 acres of outdoor recreation and open space.
This thoughtful mix of retail, residential and recreational space contributes to a vibrant, walkable urban fabric that naturally brings people together. Planned programming for the plaza, including concerts, movie nights and farmers markets, helps activate the space and ensures it serves as a true community hub. By offering these kinds of experiences, the entire development becomes an amenity for residents and visitors alike, supporting meaningful social connections and a strong sense of belonging.
Another way strong community connections are fostered is through the intentional integration of smaller-scale design elements that create a sense of comfort and belonging for pedestrians. These subtle but intentional details contribute to a cohesive and well-established community feel. For example, diverse brick patterns and detailing help break down the scale of larger buildings, making them more approachable within the public realm.
A rich mix of materials featuring varied textures, colors and patterns adds visual interest and depth. Carefully selected elements such as lighting fixtures, awnings and architectural accents further enhance the pedestrian experience. There are a mix of paving patterns and paths that connect the retail and community spaces together encouraging residents to explore the walkability of the community and meet their neighbors. Ultimately, it’s attention to detail that grounds the development and gives it a sense of permanence and place.
We approached this development with the goal of creating a vibrant community that encourages people to come together. Now that Superior’s new downtown is a reality, I get to see the result of our design and planning in the community spaces, small details and how it all integrates with the landscape. We paid attention to both the big picture and the finer details, all with the goal of creating a vibrant, connected and lasting community. By designing a place that feels authentic to Superior, Colorado, we believe this development will stand the test of time. By listening closely to people and focusing on not just the building themselves, but the spaces in between, we were able to ground this project in the existing fabric of the community. I’m incredibly proud of what my team accomplished in Downtown Superior, and I look forward to watching it grow and thrive for years to come.
