Custom Benches in Denver’s South Sloans Lake Neighborhood

Chapel Plaza is a half-acre park located at the heart of a vibrant, mixed-use redevelopment in Denver’s South Sloans Lake neighborhood.  South Sloans Lake is nearing its completion and at full build-out will feature over 1,200 residential units, charming restaurants, a movie theatre, and Colorado’s first WELL Certified building.

Chapel Plaza was designed by Stantec as part of their work on the master plan redevelopment of the former St. Anthony’s medical campus.  The plaza is anchored by a historic chapel that once served St. Anthony’s hospital and was preserved through the planning process.  Plans for the chapel include a retrofit that would allow a tenant to operate a small cafe or ice cream parlor.  The plaza itself has a parklike setting and is intended to serve as an amenity for the community that will host farmers markets, films in the park (or on the bench!), and provide a place of respite and gathering.

Site Pieces worked closely with Stantec to design the two 36-foot long benches that are the main feature of this park.  The benches transform the main challenge of the site – a large grade change – into an amenity that creates a variety of multi-level seating options connecting the lawn on the upper side, and the urban plaza setting on the low side.  At night, these benches come to life with integrated LED lights which are programmed to change colors throughout the evening or glow orange and blue on gamedays when the Broncos are playing down the street.

Both benches use Thermory’s Benchmark Ash and an all-aluminum frame construction with concealed hardware for a clean look.  In the shop, we built each bench in 6-foot modular sections which allowed for easy shipment and, with each module completely preassembled, it made install a breeze for the general contractor.