Phone
(903) 583-7500
Project Overview
Urban Farmer Steakhouse is located within Denver’s historic Oxford Hotel, a landmark property originally completed in 1891 near Union Station. Over more than a century, the Oxford has undergone multiple renovations and restorations intended to modernize the property while retaining its historic architectural character.
For Urban Farmer, the project called for two large operable openings that could connect the restaurant with the exterior while fitting naturally within the architecture of the historic property. Renlita engineered two custom Float vertical lift systems, formerly the S-1000 Floataway, measuring approximately 16 feet and 13 feet wide. The openings combine motorized counterweight operation with Low-E insulated glass to create large, transparent connections that can open without requiring conventional overhead door tracks through the restaurant.
The Challenge
Urban Farmer needed large operable openings that could create a stronger connection between the restaurant and exterior without making the new door systems visually dominant within the historic Oxford Hotel.
The two openings were different widths and needed to coordinate with the existing architecture while preserving usable space around the restaurant. The operating equipment also needed to be integrated carefully so that counterweights and other mechanical components would not detract from the finished interior. At the same time, the exterior openings needed glazing appropriate for separating the conditioned restaurant from Denver’s outdoor environment when closed.
The Solution
Renlita engineered two custom Float vertical lift systems specifically for the Urban Farmer openings. Door A measures 16’-1 13/16” wide by 7’-4 1/4” tall, while Door B measures 13’-3 11/16” wide by 7’-4 3/8” tall. Both systems incorporate 1-inch Low-E insulated glass within custom-finished frames. The glazing assembly uses tempered glass with a Cardinal 270 Low-E coating.
The Float systems use motorized counterweight operation to move the large glazed panels vertically at the building openings. The shop drawings show dedicated counterweights, remote pulleys, drive axles, motors, safety brakes, and controls engineered around each opening. This configuration creates large openings without conventional overhead door tracks extending across the occupied restaurant space.
Architectural integration extended beyond the doors themselves. On one side of each opening, the counterweights were concealed behind custom-fitted wood counterweight coverings provided by the builder, allowing the operating equipment to be incorporated into the restaurant’s finished architecture rather than remaining exposed. When closed, the insulated glazed panels maintain views through the openings while providing separation from exterior conditions. When raised, the doors open the restaurant directly toward the surrounding outdoor environment.
Key Benefits
Historic Architectural Integration
The two Float systems were custom sized and detailed for openings within Denver’s historic Oxford Hotel rather than requiring the architecture to accommodate a standard door configuration. Custom framing and builder-provided wood coverings conceal portions of the counterweight assemblies, allowing the modern operating systems to integrate with the finished restaurant while respecting the architectural character of the historic property.
Space-Efficient Vertical Operation
The Float systems move vertically at the openings rather than relying on conventional overhead tracks extending across the occupied restaurant. Their counterweight-driven design concentrates the operating equipment around the openings, preserving surrounding dining and circulation space while allowing the larger of the two doors to span more than 16 feet.
Flexible Indoor-Outdoor Dining
The Float systems allow Urban Farmer to create large connections to the exterior when conditions are appropriate while maintaining an enclosed restaurant when needed. Both doors use 1-inch Low-E insulated glass, preserving daylight and exterior views when closed while providing openings approximately 16 feet and 13 feet wide when raised.