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NEWSPAPER ARTICLE |
Ouray County Plaindealer Week of August 13-19, 1998
Architect picked for Beaumont
The new owners of the Beaumont Hotel have announced the selection of the architectural firm to lead the team for the rehabilitation and restoration of the historic structure.
After several months of interviews, Dan and Mary King last week named Andrews and Anderson, P.C., as the lead architectural firm for the project.
Additionally, the Kings named Jim Viets of Ouray to the preservation / restoration team, and said real estate agent John Lesnefsky will remain on board for marketing and public relations.
The Beaumont will most likely be a mixed-use facility with retail space, restaurant, hotel or condominiums, said the Kings.
Andrews and Anderson, P.C., is a Golden-based architectural firm with its studio in the historic Territorial Capitol Building. Its architects have been involved in the restoration of historic buildings throughout Colorado and have been the recipient of numerous awards on the state and national level. The husband and wife team of Nan and Dave Anderson, principals of Andrews and Anderson, P.C., will be responsible for the Beaumont project.
Nan and Dave Anderson both have master of architecture degrees, are members of the American Institute of Architects, and are affiliated with Colorado Preservation, Inc., the Colorado Historical Society and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Mary King said Nan Anderson will lead the team and brings a great deal of sensitivity to the needs and desires of the city of Ouray.
"There are few buildings that capture the spirit of a place like the Beaumont Hotel captures Ouray," said Anderson. "We are delighted to be part of the team that will dust this elegant lady off and stand her up again ¾ to reopen this colorful page of Ouray's history. The Beaumont's success will grow out of the Kings' vision of what is appropriate to the town as well as a responsiveness to the features that make this building great. Evaluation, planning, design and construction will require time and patience but we're already looking forward to a very exciting opening day."
Viets, who is also a member of the American Institute of Architects, is well known to the Ouray community for his involvement in the preservation of historic buildings as well as his involvement in many civic activities.
Lesnefsky, of John Lesnefsky Real Estate, Ouray, will continue to aid the team in ongoing feasibility studies, marketing and community relations, said the Kings.
The first step in the restoration process will be a total building assessment of all interior and exterior elements from the roof to the basement. The assessments will give the team an understanding of existing conditions and constraints in the rehabilitation process. Since the scope of the work in the assessment phase is extensive and involves a variety of engineering firms, completion of this phase will take several months.
At the same time that the assessment studies are going on, feasibility studies for the use of the building will continue. Dr. and Mrs. King said they are appreciative of the suggestions received to date and still welcome input.
The Beaumont or the Kings can be reached at: e-mail: beaumont@high-peak.com or mail P.O. Box 1119, Ouray, CO 81427.