SGI-USA BUDDHIST CENTER

In 2019 Ewers Architecture was hired to renovate the building to be more suitable for their organization.  After months of design, it was determined that the best solution was to demolish the building and start over.  While discarding existing structures is never Ewers Architecture’s preference, this is one instance where it was necessary.  The existing building presented a three-story concrete wall separated from the Speer Boulevard traffic by only a 5-foot-wide sidewalk.  The new site layout features a tree lawn, wider sidewalk, plus additional landscape so the new two-story building allows pedestrians and drivers to enjoy the boulevard experience of Speer.  The new building is right-sized at half the size of the original building, saving abundant energy due to the reduction in the area that requires heating, cooling, and maintenance.  The new building is all-electric, Net Zero Energy, and is a hallmark of the City of Denver’s Electrification Initiative.  With an exciting aesthetic, passive and active solar, natural materials, and spaces that suit the needs of the client, this is a building that will be celebrated for generations. 

Location… 1450 Speer Boulevard, Denver, Colorado

Sustainability… Net Zero Energy, all-electric, VRF heating & cooling, continuous insulation outside the steel frame, daylighting, long-lasting and graffiti-resistant materials, low-VOC materials, acoustic separation from Speer Blvd, and more

Credits… civil engineer & landscape architect: Baseline // structural: KL&A // mech+elec engineer: Given & Associates // fire safety: Veritas // energy modeling: Energetics // acoustic engineer: Colorado Analytics // owner’s rep: DAE // contractor: PG Arnold

Year Completed: 2025