Journey to Pike’s Peak

David is an Associate at Meander Studio. Recently he traveled to Colorado, visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park, Denver, and Pike’s Peak.

Pike’s Peak is arguably the most famous mountain in America. Its cog railway is a major tourist attraction. Recently, the railway and visitors center were renovated. The visitors center met the standards of the WELL Building challenge, and is a remarkable space to visit and take in the breathtaking views of the Colorado Rockies. The WELL challenge is an innovative standard that, among other things, asks the design team to reuse graywater produced on-site.

When you visit places like this on vacation, it’s hard not to think of work and how you will apply what you are seeing when you get home. The framing of views, passion for sustainability, and history of the route make for an unforgettable and inspiring experience for anyone, but especially a design professional. The building acts as a teaching tool to educate the public about sustainability and what is possible when a mindful design is perfectly executed.

Because of the unique nature of the project there is a lot of documentation available online about it, from the breathtaking architectural video at the bottom of this page, to fascinating write ups about the construction logistics during construction, such as short shifts due to the thin air.

The railway itself is likewise a construction feat. It is one of only a few cog railways in the world, and was originally constructed in the 20th Century with relatively rudimentary technology. The railways is considered a national landmark of mechanical engineering. It was updated as part of the Visitor’s Center project.

For more information about the WELL Building Standard, click here!

Do you want to take sustainability to its highest peaks? We do too. Contact us about your next exciting project!