A Brief History of TAXI

TAXI is a 20-acre campus, located just north of downtown on the west bank of
the South Platte River. The former industrial parcel has been transformed into a
vibrant, 24-hour creative community. TAXI is currently home to six buildings
developed over the past 12 years, including TAXI 3 DRIVE, where eighty 'new
economy' businesses employ nearly 400 people. Dozens live in the residences
on the top floor of the TAXI 2 building. The FUEL Caf attracts people from
downtown, the site and the surrounding neighborhoods. A fitness center, Pilates
Studio, Early Childhood Education Center, free parking, bike share, ample indoor
and outdoor formal and informal meeting spaces and community garden add to
the collaborative culture of the site. TAXI was catalytic in the development of the
River North District, Denver's most interesting emerging urban neighborhood.
The Vision
More than a decade ago, Mickey Zeppelin purchased the former Yellow Cab
headquarters and dispatch center in the River North District. TAXI is a unique,
cutting edge environment with special appeal to the cultural creative class,"
characterized by attention to sustainability, design, material, color, light, and air
and community spaces. This 21st Century environment provides flexibility,
efficiency, value and a breadth of amenities to a variety of individuals and
businesses.
The Site
Once used as a landfill along the South Platte, the site is steeped in history and
characterized by strong visual forms the River, the trains, unobstructed
mountain views, the City, cement plants, flourmills, stockyards and the urban
grittiness of Denvers old industrial core. An interior private drive connects all six
buildings, providing common access, parking, drainage, utilities and sidewalks.
The award-winning landscape is characterized by bio-swales, accommodating
run-off and drainage. Landscape mounds were created from dirt, excavated
beneath the TAXI 2 building - another element in TAXIs commitment to
sustainability and reuse.
TAXI 3 DRIVE
This 40,000 sf New Workplace, 4-story building, designed by Stephen Dynia,
opened in late 2012. The amenities, design and program reflect the needs of
21
st
Century entrepreneurs: egalitarian, engaging, shared common areas,
conference spaces and informal meeting places the next iteration of the
innovation and creativity that characterizes the TAXI Campus. Drive boasts
100% occupancy at opening due to refreshing design features such as access to
views and natural light for all users. To take advantage of a friendly outside
environment, each office features an operable garage door1
st
through 4
th

floorsallowing tenants access to natural ventilation and essentially expands the
workspace into the adjacent outdoors. Energy-efficient lighting and ventilation
systems reduce electrical loads, keeping utility dollars in the pockets of the
tenants and allowing them to invest more into their businesses. The landscape
design follows the precedent set throughout the rest of the TAXI site. Bio-swales
channel stormwater runoff toward detention areas, cleaning it along the way. The
TAXI site stormwater design prevents any runoff into the South Platte River.
Drive also enhances the presence of on-site amenities with the introduction of a
craft coffee bar and gourmet sandwich counter integrated into the common
areas.