Reflections on 2024: Year in Review

As we kicked off 2025, we took a moment to look back and celebrate the triumphs and little joys of 2024. 

Here are the highlights in all shapes and sizes.

• Retiring Principal Christian Barlock has (mostly) set aside his drafting board after a distinguished career, spending the majority of his 30 years working on prominent designs at 4240. [read more]

• The ever-talented Felix Tannenbaum returned to 4240, bringing his playful design fodder, storytelling, and inquisitive mind which pushes project designs to the next level.

• 4240’s enduring culture of growth and opportunity paid dividends with the advancement of our long-time colleague, the accomplished DJ Gratzer to Principal.

• Lauren Sharpe joined the 4240 team.

• Monica Mong explored Japan as a recipient of the 2023 Hooman Aryan Traveling Scholarship; Leigh Bryant was selected as the 2024 honoree.

• Former summer intern, Cole Berlin returned to 4240, degree in hand from CU Boulder. Now, he’s doubling up work-life to pursue his Master’s Degree at the University of Denver.

• Ben Ludeman, Monica Mong, Cameron French, JC Clough, Brandon Trout, and Leigh Bryant shared their passion for architecture and design with the curious minds at Englewood School District through the Denver Architecture Foundation’s longstanding CAL program, our 17th year of participation.

• Principal Michele Raftery continues to serve the profession through key board leadership positions at Urban Land Institute Colorado as Chair of Mission Advancement and the SMPS Foundation as President.

• New projects kicked off across various mountain communities and locales - Steamboat Springs, Crested Butte, Aspen, Telluride, Vail, and Big Sky Montana.

• In partnership with Community Activation Partners, design work commenced on the National Western Center Hotel, an exciting addition to Denver’s renowned National Western Center.  

• Residents moved in at Aura and guests were welcomed to Cirque Residences X Viceroy Snowmass at Snowmass Base Village; completing over eight years of working on the village masterplan and a grand total of 5 new condo/hotel buildings. 

• Cherry Creek North redevelopment continued with the opening of 255 Filmore and 320 Fillmore, and tenant move-ins included Gart Properties and Deutsche Finance America.

• Downtown Denver’s The Slate Hotel was the recipient of 4240’s first ‘Mayor’s Design Award’ in the “future forward” adaptive re-use category.

• The Elizabeth Hotel in Old Town Fort Collins and Clayton Member’s Club and Hotel in Denver’s Cherry Creek North District both received a 2024 Michelin Key.

• Emerging typologies further invigorated our hospitality roots – shhh… dare we say they include ice cream and pickles and wellness-- but, not all together (maybe 😊).

• Carbon-reducing design strategies, like Aura’s masstimber at Snowmass Base Village and connecting to the waste-water recovery system at National Western Center, reaffirmed our commitment to stewardship and innovation.

• Elated by receiving SP/DRB and City Council approvals on various projects.

• Yes, we even had the opportunity to capture a couple projects that had not been captured yet…

• New and exciting projects are working their way across the boards, from Golden to Connecticut, and we look forward to sharing those soon.

It’s a long list, but there’s always more to come. See you more in 2025.