Denver's Emily Griffith Opportunity School Lives Second Life as The Slate Hotel

An adaptive re-use story inspired by the pioneering Denverite, Emily Griffith.

Just steps away from the Colorado Convention Center and Denver’s most exciting neighborhoods, The Slate Hotel offers guests an unsurpassed education in the delights of the Mile High City. Located on The Emily Griffith Opportunity School’s former campus, this landmark property has been transformed into Denver’s most intriguing new hotel destination. 

Emily Griffith came to Denver offering another kind of opportunity. The opportunity for people to better their own lives, and their community, through education. At The Slate Hotel, we honor the legacy of Emily Griffith and her revolutionary school by offering our guests the opportunity to discover a Denver that no other hotel can offer them. A Denver that is proud of its past, excited about its future, and anxious to share the best part of itself with its visitors.

Designated a Denver historical landmark in 2016, the Emily Griffith Opportunity School building is located on Welton Street between 12th and 13th Streets in downtown Denver, adjacent to the Denver Convention Center. The Slate Hotel conversion involved the adaptive reuse and historic preservation of the existing historic Emily Griffith landmark buildings dating from 1926-1956.  To preserve the integrity of the original façades, the design team created a modern alleyway entry sequence that delivers guests straight to the second level lobby. Guests then have access to the hotel check-in, a lobby bar which is also known as the “Teacher’s Lounge”, an adjacent nook with fireplace, more intimate seating areas dispersed throughout, and guestrooms.  On the Garden Level, guests find meeting rooms of various sizes and appropriately themed names such as “The Library” and “Assembly”, while a fitness center and additional guestrooms can also be located on this level. Hotel operations and light-filled rooms for staff community spaces are chiefly located on this floor, with guestrooms occupying levels Three and Four.

Working within the historical context, the design pays special attention to the preservation of the hallmark elements of the old school buildings. The original facades, wide interior hallways and classic stairwells remain true to form and demonstrate the design team’s ‘touch lightly’ approach to the overall conversion. The project was subject to National Park Service and Landmark Historic review and as such, the character of the building was treated with great respect.

Yet even above the physical protection of the building, the preservation of the spirit of the place takes precedence. Walking the wide hallways still evokes the sense of excitement and opportunity former students must have felt stepping through the threshold for the first time.  The project is not simply a new hotel within the old shell of a school building. It is a fusion of the two elements. Subtle interior details, from blackboard-esque accessories and script wallpaper to mid-century accent pieces seem to occupy two times at once and cement the marriage of past and present, creating an altogether unique guest experience.

Developer: Stonebridge Development Company

Design-Builder: Mortenson Construction

Architect: 4240 Architecture Inc.

Interior Designer: The Society

Civil: Martin/Martin

Landscape: Norris Design

Structural: SA Miro

Mechanical Plumbing: IMEG

Electrical: MV Consulting

Historical: form+works design group

Photography: Mark Compton Photography