Union Bar and Soda Fountain

Union Bar and Soda Fountain, Fort Collins, CO

250 Jefferson St | Fort Collins, CO 80524

CHALLENGE

To create a vibrant social gathering place that draws people from across a state highway while saving as many mature trees as possible.   

When the owners of the Union put a contract on the property, it was an abandoned piece of land next to the Union Pacific Railroad lines.  For several years the City of Fort Collins had leased the site for a park.  However, that changed when the railroad put a restriction on the property’s use which made the park no longer viable.  The amenity that was left behind was a beautiful, mature, urban forest. The site also acts as the gateway to the City’s relatively new River District.  The City had high expectations for this corner property which as it serves as a connecting link to Old Town Square accross Highway 14.

SOLUTION                               

Ripley Design’s in depth knowledge of the Land Use Code and public policies served was kept the project moving forward through every design and political hurdle of the development process. In order to save the trees, the site had to forgo a parking lot. Ripley Design successfully developed an Alternative Compliance strategy to show how the site could function with the existing parking resources available in nearby public parking lots. Additionally, the code requires buildings to be built fronting streets and intersections.  However, in order to properly memorialize the gateway corner of Linden and Highway 14, Ripley proposed a vibrant patio space which became the hallmark of the restaurant.  Working closely with City staff and the design team, Ripley design provided a solution to connect the historic core of Old Town to the trendy, modern feel of the River District through the use of brick walls and industrial lamp posts. This enabled the patio design to carry the architectural feel towards the gateway intersection while leaving the space open for the large patio space.  It was crucial to see the activity on the large patio from Old Town to entice pedestrians to cross the highway and be a part of the fun.

RESULTS

Even though it is just outside the boundaries of Old Town, today the Union Bar and Soda Fountain is one of the most successful restaurants in Fort Collins. Even in the winter months, the patio is full of patrons enjoying the space and its multiple amenities. Moreover, the project has successfully created a gateway entry, and link between, the historic core of Old Town and the up-and-coming River District.

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