The Vault

Harbor Associates purchased 821 17th Street in November 2017 and tasked Tryba Architects with repositioning the 1907 structure. One of the Four Corners buildings in Dowtown Denver's financial and business district, the Ideal Building was reported to be the first major multi-story building to be built in reinforced concrete west of the Mississippi.

The building has been rechristened 'The Vault' and underwent a significant renovation with the goal of retaining the building's sense of history while adding the amenities and improvements required by tenants who desire a balance of authentic character and performance. The project included refreshing the historic lobby; opening up and refurbishing the upper floors; remodeling the ground floor and basement; adding bike storage, locker rooms and showers; re-imagining the ground floor for retail amenities and restoring and upgrading the exterior façade with new contextual features. The design responds to the historic art and decorative motifs of the existing building and reveals and reframes historic aspects that create a strong sense of place, including the old bank hall, vaults and historic brass doors.