1801 California Street

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name=1801 California Street


caption= 1801 California Street is the second-tallest building in Denver and Colorado
use=Officecite web|url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=2700|title=1801 California Street|accessdate=2008-06-15|publisher=SkyscraperPage.com]
status=Built
location= 1801 California Street, Denver, Colorado, USA
roof=709 ft (216 m)cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=1801californiastreet-denver-co-usa|title=1801 California Street|accessdate=2008-06-15|publisher=Emporis.com]
floor_count=53
opening=1982
architect=Metz, Train & Youngren
developer=The Weitz Company
owner=Qwest Communications International, Inc.|

1801 California Street, also known as Qwest Tower, is a skyscraper in Denver, Colorado. The building was completed in 1983, and rises 52 floors and convert|709|ft|m|0|lk=on in height. The building stands as the second-tallest building in Denver and Colorado, and as the 101st-tallest building in the United States.

1801 California Street was previously occupied by offices for US West, but now serves as the world headquarters of Qwest Communications.cite web|url=http://www.denverskyscrapers.com/tallbuildings_downtown_507_714.html|title=The tallest buildings in Colorado|accessdate=2008-06-15|publisher=DENVERSKYSCRAPERS.COM] Upon its completion in 1983, the building stood as the tallest building in the city. However, it held it 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 convert|738|ft|m|0, surpassing the convert|717|ft|m|0|adj=on 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 convert|70|mi|km|0 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.cite web|url=http://www.westword.com/2004-12-23/news/the-bright-stuff/|title=The Bright Stuff|author=Calhoun, Patricia|accessdate=2008-06-15|publisher=Denver Westword|date=2004-12-23] Qwest executives estimate that the replacement lights will save the company 70% in electricity costs.

ee also

*List of tallest buildings in Denver

References