Over the years, Tres Birds has discovered that every client they work with has a certain DNA that makes them special. “Whether it be a home, a museum, a park, an office, or a showroom, we’ve been fortunate to work on some unique and progressive project types,” says Michael M. Moore, principal of Tres Birds. “We take each client and analyze their personality, translating their business and personal culture into design and creating a three-dimensional opportunity for them to make themselves known in both exciting and subtle ways.”
Tres Birds recently worked with two very different companies – one focusing on the landscape of the blissful mind, the other on the action of immersive snow sport. “Our plan is that when you walk in the door as a visitor, you get an immediate and positive feeling about the people and the place. And if you work there, the space is designed for your everyday comfort,” explains Moore.
Shambhala Publications
Like so many companies during the pandemic, Shambhala Publications of Boulder noticed that they could do with less space since many of their workers were working remotely across the country. Shambhala — the premier independent publisher of Buddhism, Mindfulness, Wisdom Traditions, Health, Yoga, and more — decided to relocate to a smaller location in a circa 1900 Victorian house that could house their library of publications along with meeting space and offices.
Tres Birds had designed and built Shambhala’s first space in Boulder following their move from Boston in 2015, so they knew how their dedication to creating books, audio, and immersive courses is aimed at improving lives. They believe, in the words of their first author, the Tibetan Buddhist master Chögyam Trungpa, “Enlightened society has to be real and good, honest and genuine.”
Tres Birds disassembled and altered the custom built-ins from Shambhala’s previous location to fit their new space. Almost nothing was reassembled exactly as it was previously, but parts were resized to create efficient new built-ins.
For the finishing touch, Tres Birds designed and built a new reception desk from Baltic Birch plywood and with the leftover material added a bench at the front entry. Behind the reception desk, the Shambhala emblem was re-installed on a wall that is actually a hidden door leading to an under-stair secret space. The end result underscores the beauty of repurposed materials and the contemplative space lends itself to literary, intellectual, and calm pursuits.
Burton Snowboards
The people at Burton Snowboards are world champions, innovators, and leaders in the sport, with a keen understanding of how people enjoy the outdoors. So it was imperative that their new flagship store and showroom offer their customers an authoritative perspective while offering reminisces of the rustic charm of a mountain lodge.
The existing building in Denver, a combination of three separate structures dating from 1904 to 1961, served many different uses including a factory for the Strasser Candy Company and a woodworking space for Denver Fine Cabinetry.
Tres Birds worked with its engineering team on this careful and complicated adaptive reuse project, resulting in a nimble design, which preserved the facades and much of the existing structures. The loading dock was wrapped in a glazed enclosure, creating an indoor-outdoor patio. Custom 16-foot-wide sliding doors open the patio to the street. A second level and roof deck were added to create some additional square footage for conference space and rooftop views of the city. Windows were replaced and skylights were introduced.
The existing timber structure on the north bay remains exposed, and new steel supports were introduced to support loads from the roof deck above. The space has polished concrete floors and wall-hung retail fixtures installed by the Tres Birds team. On the exterior, a colorful mural was created by Jessica Gilbert, and historic façade elements were preserved including the cornice detailing and the original sign holder, which now hosts the sign for Burton Snowboards.
About Tres Birds
Tres Birds is a full-service planning, architecture and general contracting firm based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2000, Tres Birds creates dynamic designs for a better world―building sustainable communities, respecting nature, and sparking innovation.
Photos courtesy of Tres Birds
