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Boulder commission previews major garage repairs and new wayfinding, schedules town hall
Summary
The Downtown Management Commission reviewed comprehensive capital upgrades at 1100 Spruce and the St. Julien garages — including structural repairs, enclosed elevator shafts, lighting and wayfinding murals — and scheduled a town hall for Oct. 15 to discuss closures and timelines.
The Downtown Management Commission heard a staff presentation on Oct. 6 detailing major capital improvement projects for two city‑owned parking garages and asked staff to hold a public town hall to explain closures and schedules.
Chelsea Sullivan, a project analyst in Community Vitality, said the work at 1100 Spruce will shift the city’s approach from piecemeal emergency repairs to a comprehensive investment program. She described the scope as enclosing elevator hoistways and stairwells to minimize water intrusion, replacing worn storefronts, performing structural and concrete repairs, upgrading lighting and repainting to improve safety and visibility, and applying traffic coatings. Sullivan said the project team sent initial communications on Sept. 23 and that a public town hall is scheduled for Oct. 15 to review schedule and mitigation for garage closures.
“Over 10% of all people who come downtown interact with our garages,” Sullivan said, explaining why staff prioritized a holistic approach to preserve the assets and reduce recurring emergency work.
Staff also said the St. Julien Hotel garage project was pulled forward to coordinate with the hotel’s expansion. Erica Ben, the city’s owner’s representative, told commissioners the city is pursuing Saunders Construction to partner with the hotel’s contractor so the two projects can be sequenced in shared spaces without conflicting work. The St. Julien scope includes replacement of two stairwells, new wayfinding and signage, lighting upgrades, concrete repairs and replacement of mechanical equipment including exhaust fans. Staff recommended coordination to limit simultaneous closures of downtown parking assets.
Design partners PEH Architects and 4240 Architects presented three concept schemes for murals and wayfinding: ecology/animals, an "Out and About in Boulder" visitor orientation, and placemaking oriented to activities and destinations. Commissioners favored simple alphanumeric identification paired with color or icons so users can easily find exits and levels, and many urged avoiding overt advertising in stairwell murals. Several commissioners suggested a floor map mural or a single map wall to aid orientation and reduce unreadable text in stairwells.
Staff said permits are in review and that construction mobilization for 1100 Spruce is expected to begin in early 2026 with substantial completion anticipated in fall 2026; St. Julien permits are expected Jan–Feb 2026 with mobilization to follow. Staff also said some closures will be compressed to shorten schedules, and that details will be discussed at the town hall on Oct. 15.
Next steps: staff will refine wayfinding concepts to include alphanumeric naming and provide updated design options before finalizing mural content and construction phasing.
