CBS This Morning aired a segment on airports around the country that have been or will be reinvented for another purpose. If you live in Denver, you are well aware of the deserted Stapleton International Airport tower that remains from DIA’s predecessor. Now situated amidst the thriving community of Stapleton with it’s vibrant mix of residential and commercial properties, the old air traffic control tower calls out for new life.
That call was answered by Feed Media client, Robert Thompson, CEO of Punch Bowl Social. Thompson plans to turn the dilapidated tower into a “center of nightlife” by making it his ninth Punch Bowl Social location and the second in the Denver area. The renovation is slated to cost $6.5 million.
Thompson says that his company could have demolished the tower, which may have been easier than renovating it, “but we would’ve sacrificed our reputation, the history of the building,” he said. Preserving the building is important to Thompson, so he partnered with Denver’s OZ Architecture, another Feed Media client. OZ’s Becky Stone is heading up the redesign with the primary aim of maintaining the character of the property.
“It’s kind of like a vintage car. So you could go out and buy a new car, but it doesn’t have the same lines or the same character or the same uniqueness as a vintage car that’s been sort of upgraded, and I think that’s just a special opportunity,” Stone said.
As mentioned in the interview, Stone also led OZ’s design transformation of the old Steamboat Springs airport terminal into SmartWool’s corporate headquarters.
Transforming flagging spaces into “dirty modern” entertainment venues across the U.S. is a specialty of Thompson’s. As with his other Punch Bowl Social locations, the new Stapleton spot will have bowling, pool tables, bars and a restaurant when it opens in September. Feed Media is excited to manage the public relations for the new Stapleton location as well as continuing to promote the eight other Punch Bowl Social posts nationwide.
