Case Study: One River North
Redefining Urban Living with EIFS Innovation
One River North demonstrates how EIFS can help bring avant-garde architectural visions to life—meeting performance goals, overcoming environmental challenges, and delivering unforgettable design in the heart of an urban environment.
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Project Overview
Located in Denver’s vibrant River North Art District, One River North is a striking 16-story residential tower that blends nature with modern architecture. Offering 187 for-lease apartments and over 13,000 square feet of open-air environments—including a dramatic four-story canyon carved through its façade—the building serves as both a visual landmark and a statement of innovation. The project uses a combination of four façade systems, with EIFS playing a major role on the east, north, and south elevations. Panelized and field-installed water-managed Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) were carefully designed to meet the building’s unique curves and contours, ensuring a continuous, high-performance envelope while contributing to the building’s organic aesthetic. |
Key Project Highlights
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Aesthetic Appeal and Design Integration With Denver’s 300 days of sunshine per year, One River North was conceived to provide residents with a connection to the outdoors. The building’s canyon—complete with natural plantings, a trail-like walkway, and a cascading waterfall—runs diagonally across four floors, creating a vertical garden experience that blurs the line between building and nature. The EIFS material enhances this concept with:
Panel sizes ranged up to four stories tall, wrapping around the curved elevations and providing a natural yet modern finish that reinforces the building’s environmental narrative. |
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Innovation and Creativity Originally specified as a field-installed façade, the EIF system underwent a strategic redesign, led by the contractor (DM) in a collaborative, design-assist role. Recognizing the challenges of winter construction, the team proposed converting much of the system to prefabricated panels, assembled in a nearby warehouse under controlled conditions. This approach allowed:
In addition, the dramatic canyon walls were constructed using a prefabricated “chip” system—custom-shaped panels made of #3 rebar and mesh supporting EIFS. These panels were welded together into a “quilt” that allowed for highly complex shapes while maintaining consistency and constructability. |
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Challenges and Resolutions
Executing such an ambitious architectural vision required meticulous coordination and precision. The EIFS contractor was responsible for exact measurements and ensuring that every curve and joint aligned seamlessly. Water management, a critical component in EIFS installations, was given special attention—particularly around terminations and panel joints.
Key solutions included:
These elements combined to deliver a façade that met both the aesthetic and technical demands of the project.
Executing such an ambitious architectural vision required meticulous coordination and precision. The EIFS contractor was responsible for exact measurements and ensuring that every curve and joint aligned seamlessly. Water management, a critical component in EIFS installations, was given special attention—particularly around terminations and panel joints.
Key solutions included:
- Applying a pre-installed liquid air/water barrier on all substrates
- Using a high-impact EIF system with compatible sealants and finishes
- Integrating a single-source warranty from the EIFS manufacturer to ensure system integrity
These elements combined to deliver a façade that met both the aesthetic and technical demands of the project.
Functionality and Performance
Beyond aesthetics, One River North prioritizes performance and comfort. The EIF system enhances the building’s energy efficiency, a vital consideration in Colorado’s variable climate, by offering:
By selecting a complete EIF system from a single manufacturer—including barriers, insulation, basecoats, and sealants—the project team ensured full system compatibility and long-term reliability, backed by a 20-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Beyond aesthetics, One River North prioritizes performance and comfort. The EIF system enhances the building’s energy efficiency, a vital consideration in Colorado’s variable climate, by offering:
- Superior thermal performance and airtightness
- Enhanced interior comfort for residents year-round
- Durability through impact resistance and water-managed design
By selecting a complete EIF system from a single manufacturer—including barriers, insulation, basecoats, and sealants—the project team ensured full system compatibility and long-term reliability, backed by a 20-year manufacturer’s warranty.
