The first phase of Clayworks, a 14-acre, six-block redevelopment of the former CoorsTek ceramics manufacturing site in Golden, is now complete with the opening of The Pottery, a new 188,600-square-foot office building developed by AC Development, the Coors family’s development company. Tryba Architects served as architect and Holder Construction served as general contractor.
The milestone marks CoorsTek’s return of its global headquarters to its original location in Golden, where the company established its ceramics operation in 1910. CoorsTek and AC Development teams completed their move into The Pottery this month. Approximately 165 CoorsTek employees will work from The Pottery. Additional office and retail space is currently available for lease within the building, offering businesses an opportunity to join the first completed phase of the Clayworks development.
“The Pottery brings CoorsTek’s headquarters back to our roots in Golden while giving our employees a new home for the work ahead,” said Michael Coors, CEO of CoorsTek. “This space gives our team an environment that reflects the way we work today and strengthens our ability to serve the industries that rely on CoorsTek’s technology and expertise. We’re proud to invest in a workplace that supports our people as we collaborate to solve our customers’ most complex challenges.
The Pottery was created through the adaptive reuse of the former CoorsTek headquarters and manufacturing facilities, preserving elements of the company’s industrial history while creating a modern headquarters for today. The building incorporates historic elements, including the brick façade along Ford Street and original kiln elements, connecting CoorsTek’s modern workplace to the site where its ceramics legacy began.
That history was also uncovered during construction, when artifacts representing different eras of CoorsTek’s manufacturing legacy were discovered throughout the site. The Coors family archivist collected the items for preservation, with plans to display them at Clayworks in the future, creating another connection between the property’s past and its next chapter.
“The opening of The Pottery is a significant milestone for Clayworks and the first step in realizing our vision for this historic property,” Darden Coors, CEO of AC Development, said. “We set out to honor the legacy of this site while creating a place that can serve Golden well into the future. The Pottery brings that vision to life as a modern office environment and the new home of CoorsTek, and we’re excited to build on this momentum as we welcome future tenants and continue transforming Clayworks into a place where businesses and the community can thrive.”
While the project will preserve elements of the property’s history, it will also create new spaces for the Golden community. Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters is the first announced retail tenant at Clayworks and is set to open on the ground floor of The Pottery later this quarter, marking the completion of a new gathering place for Golden residents.
The broader Clayworks redevelopment also incorporates sustainability-focused infrastructure, including a district-scale geothermal energy system designed to reduce the energy required to heat and cool the buildings. The system includes approximately 42 geothermal wells extending roughly 500 feet underground and is expected to serve approximately 80% of the project’s heating and cooling load while reducing energy use by approximately 25%. The Pottery is targeting LEED Gold and WELL Gold certifications.
The geothermal work has also supported workforce development through an apprenticeship partnership with CanAmerica. The program provided hands-on experience connected to the project’s geothermal infrastructure and received recognition from the U.S. Department of Labor.
With The Pottery complete, AC Development will continue advancing the broader Clayworks redevelopment. Future phases will include a boutique hotel that will reimagine the historic Golden High School, along with additional parking and other planned elements of the mixed-use development.
