Presented by: Krysta Miller, Grant Bolsinger, Ahnnali Lindgren, William Neale

The trees at Elk’s Park are at the heart of our redesign of the Elk’s Lodge. Our design process began with colored pencil botanical studies of those trees, which we then used to inform our concept. All of our drawings focused on flowers and growth, so we chose blossoms and roots as our conceptual basis. The connection to the Elk’s Lodge was immediately clear – the Elk’s Lodge is deeply rooted in Boulder’s architectural history and in the future we hope to see it blossom as a space for community engagement and connection to nature.

Over a couple weeks, we created a cementitious product that could be used to improve the exterior of the Elk’s Lodge. We used the module as a breeze block to replace the stucco on the exterior of the Elk’s lodge and we designed seating elements following the same heart-shaped form. Finally, we developed the module even further for our interior redesign of the Elk’s Lodge and designed curtains, furniture, and partitions from our heart of roots and blossoms.

Smart, well-researched approach and clear design thinking. The project balanced feasibility with creativity, tackling site, circulation, and interiors while weaving a cohesive narrative that honors the Elks’ heritage and imagines exciting new possibilities for the future.

Outdoor Design – Smart site planning and improved circulation create a stronger sense of place; the boondocking area adds unexpected charm.

Property Revitalization

The Elks Boulder property revitalization centers on redesigning the area around the main lodge. We focused on four key improvements: signage and wayfinding, parking, green space, and circulation.

• Signage and Wayfinding upgrades address the current lack of identity, marketing, and navigational cues. We propose new entrance arches reflecting the site’s midcentury modern architecture to create a clear threshold for visitors. Additional directional and marketing signage will be placed at key points throughout the property.
• Parking Lot Improvements respond to damage, underuse, and a car-centric layout. To support safer travel after late-night lodge events, we added a shortterm loop for designated drivers and rideshares, centralized bike parking, and proposed a nearby BCycle station in Elks Park with new connections to 28th Street transit stops. Along with general resurfacing and striping being proposed we also introduce “flex spaces” — dual-purpose areas striped for both parking and court games like basketball or tennis during off-peak hours.
• Green-Space Enhancements target the deteriorated west field, heavily used for dry camping. We propose a gravel loop with designated RV and car pads and a central park inspired by our design module to encourage community gathering. Underused areas of the parking lot will be revegetated to reduce the heat island effect.
• Circulation Improvements address limited internal connectivity and lack of links to the surrounding area. We propose a new path along the southern edge,
  connecting the west-side camping area to the pool entrance on the east side. Additional paths would link camping areas to the lodge and to Sunrise Assisted Living, supporting accessibility and potential member engagement.

Together, these improvements aim to better reflect the Elks’ values, enhance usability, and foster stronger community connection on the site.

Ballroom Renovation

• New room dividors take the form of heavy duty curtains. With an adaptable track they can be pulled in multiple ways to create different flex spaces.
• The ballroom benefitted from creating a system of configurable LED lights. Nested inside the ceiling they create new experiences and vibes in the space.
• Utilizing the same stackable chairs and tables from the bar area creates a uniquely similar and custimizable layout for the spaces.
• This stackable chair is abstracted by the negative space of the module that inspired our entire redesign. The left diagram illustrates the process of going from the module to the final chair design.

Bar Revitalization

• We redesigned the bar area to create a more distinct, enclosed space while maintaining a flexible connection to the ballroom. Key interventions include a breezeblock hall divider, a stage that can serve as a bridge or separation between the bar and ballroom, and new bar furniture to improve visual interest and cohesion.
• The bar chair we designed is inspired by the overlapping and interwoven form of our concrete module, while still aligning with the aesthetic of the space. The diagram to the left illustrates this relationship through the process of abstraction used to develop the lower portion of the chair.