1801 California Street
Encyclopedia
1801 California Street, also known as Qwest Tower, is a skyscraper
in Denver, Colorado
. (In summer 2011, the Qwest sign was removed from the top and replaced with the Century Link sign.) The building was completed in 1983, and rises 52 floors and 709 feet (216 m) in height. The building stands as the second-tallest building in Denver and Colorado, and as the 111th-tallest building in the United States.
1801 California Street was previously occupied by offices for US West
, and then served as the world headquarters
of Qwest Communications
. Upon its completion in 1983, the building stood as the tallest building in the city. However, it held that distinction for less than a year, being surpassed by Republic Plaza
in 1984.
The building has a brown concrete façade
, and has a stepped design featuring four setbacks
. It is an example of late-modernist high-rise architecture
. The shape of the building resembles two interlocked octagonal sections, which separate near the building's roof. The roof houses an antenna mast
; with this structure included, the building reaches to a total height of 738 feet (225 m), surpassing the 717 feet (219 m) roof of Republic Plaza. Therefore, when measuring by pinnacle height, 1801 California Street remains the tallest building in Denver.
1801 California Street once held the distinction of hosting the brightest high-rise signs in the world, surpassing even the brightly lit high-rise logos found on the skyscrapers of Shanghai
and Hong Kong
. Four Qwest logos were installed in 2000, after the corporation moved their offices from 555 17th Street
, situated two blocks away. The signs, light blue in color, were at the time the brightest high-rise lights in the world, visible from over 70 miles (113 km) away. However, Qwest removed the signs in 2004 due to increasing complaints from residents of Downtown Denver
and rising energy costs, and the lights were replaced with ones of a darker blue color. The new lighting system of the four logos uses LEDs
in place of neon tubing, which saves on maintenance costs as well as energy costs. Qwest executives estimate that the replacement lights will save the company 70% in electricity costs.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
in Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. (In summer 2011, the Qwest sign was removed from the top and replaced with the Century Link sign.) The building was completed in 1983, and rises 52 floors and 709 feet (216 m) in height. The building stands as the second-tallest building in Denver and Colorado, and as the 111th-tallest building in the United States.
1801 California Street was previously occupied by offices for US West
US West
U S WEST, Inc. was one of seven Regional Bell Operating Companies , created in 1983 under the Modification of Final Judgement , a case related to the antitrust breakup of AT&T...
, and then served as the world headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
of Qwest Communications
Qwest
Qwest Communications International, Inc. was a large United States telecommunications carrier. Qwest provided local service in 14 western U.S. states: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.On April...
. Upon its completion in 1983, the building stood as the tallest building in the city. However, it held that distinction for less than a year, being surpassed by Republic Plaza
Republic Plaza (Denver)
Republic Plaza is a skyscraper in Denver, Colorado. Rising 714 feet , the building currently stands as the tallest building in the city of Denver, the state of Colorado and the entire Rocky Mountain region of the United States. It was built in 1984, and contains 56 floors, the majority of which are...
in 1984.
The building has a brown concrete façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
, and has a stepped design featuring four setbacks
Setback (architecture)
A setback, sometimes called step-back, is a step-like recession in a wall. Setbacks were initially used for structural reasons, but now are often mandated by land use codes.-History:...
. It is an example of late-modernist high-rise architecture
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
. The shape of the building resembles two interlocked octagonal sections, which separate near the building's roof. The roof houses an antenna mast
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
; with this structure included, the building reaches to a total height of 738 feet (225 m), surpassing the 717 feet (219 m) roof of Republic Plaza. Therefore, when measuring by pinnacle height, 1801 California Street remains the tallest building in Denver.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Four Qwest logos were installed in 2000, after the corporation moved their offices from 555 17th Street
555 17th Street
555 17th Street, formerly known as the Anaconda Tower and the Qwest Tower, is a skyscraper in Denver, Colorado. The building was completed in 1978, and rises 40 floors and in height. The building stands as the seventh-tallest building in Denver and Colorado...
, situated two blocks away. The signs, light blue in color, were at the time the brightest high-rise lights in the world, visible from over 70 miles (113 km) away. However, Qwest removed the signs in 2004 due to increasing complaints from residents of Downtown Denver
Downtown Denver
Downtown Denver is the main financial, commercial, and entertainment district in Denver, Colorado. There is over of office space in downtown Denver, with 130,000 workers....
and rising energy costs, and the lights were replaced with ones of a darker blue color. The new lighting system of the four logos uses LEDs
Light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many devices and are increasingly used for other lighting...
in place of neon tubing, which saves on maintenance costs as well as energy costs. Qwest executives estimate that the replacement lights will save the company 70% in electricity costs.