HDR relocates 500 engineering, architecture staff to downtown Denver office

This blog post examines HDR’s decision to relocate its Denver office into the new Block 162 tower downtown. The move consolidates roughly 500 staff into a 74,000-square-foot workspace.

I’ll break down the practical drivers behind the move and the workplace and design implications for a large multidisciplinary firm. I will also discuss what the lease means for Block 162 and Denver’s urban core from the perspective of an architecture and engineering professional with three decades of experience.

Why HDR chose Block 162 for its Denver consolidation

HDR’s Denver office leadership signed a lease for 74,000 square feet across 2½ contiguous floors at 675 15th St., known as Block 162. The move will bring together roughly 500 employees who were previously spread over 3½ noncontiguous floors at 1670 Broadway into a single, connected environment.

This new setup is designed to enhance collaboration and improve client access. The lease decision was driven by the expiration of HDR’s existing lease in October, not by dissatisfaction with the prior space.

HDR selected Block 162 for its central location and its improved proximity to hotels and restaurants. The convenience of accessing downtown amenities without crossing busy Broadway is a real benefit for client meetings and staff mobility.

Primary drivers behind the relocation

As a practice that delivers integrated architecture, engineering, and construction services, HDR’s office layout affects project delivery. Consolidating into contiguous floors supports multidisciplinary workflows and reduces friction in communication.

This move also enables more efficient use of shared resources and meeting spaces. Key practical reasons include:

Design and workplace strategy implications

Moving into a modern 30-story tower completed in 2021 gives HDR the chance to create a workplace aligned with current design principles for A/E/C firms. The space can be planned for open, collaborative studios and formal meeting suites for client presentations.

There will also be project-specific touchdown zones. HDR’s “ad hoc” attendance policy encourages five-day attendance but does not require it, so the office must support flexible use and hot-desking.

Resilient team zones are needed that work well whether the roster is full or partial on any given day.

How layout choices support multidisciplinary work

Contiguous floors enable design outcomes that improve project delivery:

Broader impact on Block 162 and Denver’s downtown market

The HDR lease brings Block 162’s occupancy to roughly 90%. This follows an earlier Bank of America lease that had driven the tower to about 75% leased.

Block 162 already hosts several professional tenants, including law firms Taft and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Restaurant tenant Leven Downtown will join on the ground floor later this year.

For Denver’s urban core, the lease signals continued demand for high-quality office environments. These spaces blend amenity access with efficient floorplates.

What this means for owners and designers

For owners and design teams, HDR’s move is a reminder that firms value adaptable workplaces. These spaces support collaboration and client-facing activities.

Developers who include tenant amenities and ground-floor activation will stay competitive. Designing circulation that does not force staff to cross busy streets is also important for attracting large professional services tenants.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Engineering, architecture firm moving its 500 employees within downtown Denver