The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club, situated in the city of Aurora, Colorado, known as the Gateway to the Rockies, and located within the prestigious University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Fitzsimmons Innovation Community, has quickly become a celebrated luxury hotel in the region.
This property is characterized by its warm, welcoming, and elegant ambiance, positioned conveniently between Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport. The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club was meticulously designed to serve as a communal gathering place in a city that is rapidly evolving into Colorado’s biotech hub and a center for health and life sciences research.
Jeff Poorten, AIA, of Tryba Architects, who managed the project, emphasized, “We worked closely with our client, Aimco, and with the Fitzsimons Innovation Community, the University of Colorado, the City of Aurora, our design partners, and Hyder Construction to craft an inspiring and rejuvenating center of hospitality for the Anschutz Medical Campus.”
The hotel’s creative design is the result of a collaboration between Tryba Architects and Avenue Interior Design. This seven-story hotel stands as a beacon along Montview Boulevard, adjacent to Central Green. The lobby, with its wood columns, beams, and terracotta tile floors, offers a warm and inviting welcome. The furnishings were thoughtfully chosen to evoke a sense of traditional elegance, with materials such as leather and velvet that pay homage to the American West.
Denise Pan, Director of Design & Projects for Avenue Interior Design, emphasized the focus on wellness and the pioneering spirit of the West in the hotel’s design narrative. This narrative extends throughout the hotel’s public spaces, including seven boardrooms with natural light and a 3,800 square-foot ballroom that opens onto the Flower Garden, the hotel’s signature outdoor event space.
The Unique Dining Experience
The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club offers a distinctive dining experience with each food and beverage venue boasting a unique identity.
Starting with the Lobby Bar, featuring a grand fireplace, a floating bar, and a jewel-toned color palette, it creates a lively and sociable atmosphere for guests to unwind. A separate Lounge, designed with warm mahogany wood and brass accents, is surrounded by rich teal paneled walls.
Aurora boasts one of the state’s most diverse and creative food scenes, with over 300 ethnic restaurants. The hotel’s restaurant, The Common Good, adds to this culinary vibrancy by reflecting Colorado’s rich history and natural landscapes. This 100-seat restaurant offers an open kitchen, leather booth seating, expansive windows, and an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining. The Common Good is intended to welcome both the greater Aurora community and hotel guests.
On the second floor, the private Faculty Club lounge, accessible to members only, combines collegiate flair with Southwestern influences. The lounge features a double-sided bar and a private patio with operable window walls for a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.
Art and Design
The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club houses the second-largest collection of Western art in the state. This collection features works by local artists with strong ties to Colorado, capturing the essence of the living West. Each piece, from paintings to sculptures, was commissioned for specific locations within the hotel.
Thoughtful Guestrooms
The hotel offers 106 guestrooms, each designed with four distinct concepts that highlight the hotel’s connection with the University and the natural beauty of Colorado. Custom wood floor patterns, curated furnishings, and unique guest bathroom designs distinguish each room. For guests seeking extended stays or home-like comforts, suites and studios with kitchenettes, separate dining rooms, and living areas are available.
David Tryba, FAIA, founder of Tryba Architects, noted, “We wanted to create a new ‘living room’ for the medical campus, welcoming researchers, faculty, patients, and their families to experience innovation and connection at this world-class destination.”
Avenue Interior Design
Avenue Interior Design, founded in 2009, has established itself as a notable player in the hospitality design industry. Under the guidance of founders Andrea DeRosa and Ashley Manhan, the studio is known for creating unique identities for a variety of properties and brands. Their fresh perspective considers demographics, location, and brand identity to produce interiors and products with exceptional character. Avenue Interior Design specializes in new-build and renovation projects for the hospitality industry, covering guestrooms, suites, public areas, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, gaming venues, spas, and retail spaces. Their clientele includes prominent names such as Station Casinos, MGM Resorts International, Montage, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, sbe, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, and Marriott International.
Tryba Architects
Established in 1988, Tryba Architects is a nationally-recognized architecture and planning firm known for seamlessly integrating architecture, interior design, urban design, and historic preservation. Their approach emphasizes contextual, iconic, and sustainable design principles that promote health, wellness, connection, and enhancement of built and natural environments. Tryba Architects has been involved in iconic projects such as Denver Union Station and The Crawford Hotel, the Denver Botanic Gardens, and numerous endeavors within the Fitzsimons Innovation Community.
The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club
As a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club serves as Aurora’s hub for hospitality, dining, and social engagement. The hotel is ideally positioned to cater to both the community and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Conveniently located between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport, The Benson features 106 guestrooms, suites, and apartment-style suites with kitchens. The Common Good restaurant serves both hotel guests and the adjacent Fitzsimmons Innovation
About the Author
Jaunting Magazine Staff
Our magazine is powered by a small but dedicated team of individuals who are passionate about delivering exceptional content to our readers. Working behind the scenes, they collaborate seamlessly to bring you engaging and insightful articles.
Working together, our passionate team endeavors to deliver content that educates, entertains, and inspires. They are committed to upholding the values of our magazine and continually strive to exceed expectations.
We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our magazine staff, as they play an instrumental role in bringing our vision to life. Stay tuned for their thought-provoking articles as they continue to share their knowledge and insights with you.