Summary

Category: High-Rise
Location: Vail, CO
Size: 525,000 sq. ft.
Masonry Used: Oklahoma Gold, Buff Sandstone, Buff Sandstone Panels, Cafe Imperial Granite, and Telluride Gold,
Submitted by: Barnes Coy Architects

Project Description

With 525,000 square feet of private luxury residences, restaurants and shops as well as a 25,000-square-foot public plaza equipped with heated pavers, Solaris brings fresh vitality to the local ski village community. The lobby/restaurant area with canyon-like stone walls is the standout feature. The impressive two-story Nobu Matsuhisa restaurant has a 22-foot by 55-foot glass window wall facing Vail Mountain. Solaris' exterior and interior style reflects features of Craftsman Revival with the mark of hand craftsmanship. Exterior and interior details reinforce the pairing of mining and historical log-and-timber architecture of the Rocky Mountain West.

Residential units, most with four bedrooms plus a den, range in size from 909 to 6,600 square feet. The Solaris master suite is finished with hand toweled plaster and the five-fixture master bathroom has floor to ceiling limestone. Throughout the home, climate comfort is a priority with In-floor radiant heat and forced air conditioning. When it's time to entertain, Solaris residents enjoy cooking in their gourmet kitchen on elegant granite and marble slab countertops, sitting in front of their custom stone fireplace. As for recreational and health amenities, residents have access to a 55-foot-long private indoor swimming pool, a 15 person hot tub, a deluxe health club facility and spa treatment facilities.

For public use, Solaris allocated 70,000 square feet of commercial space to include CineBistro, a three-screen Movie Theater with full dining service, Bol has 10 ultra-high-end VIP bowling lanes, and approximately 18 storefronts with a dazzling selection of fine retail shops and galleries. The commercial portion of the Solaris property fills in the first two floors and wraps around a large public plaza. Outdoors, Solaris truly becomes a community center with a free ice-skating rink in the center of the half-acre plaza. Benches ideal for people watching, stone fire pits, and a series of magnificent public art sculptures are all incorporated into the inviting space. The Solaris commercial center sits on top of a discreetly hidden underground 338 car public parking facility.

Solaris has been deemed the new hot spot in town, welcomed for the rejuvenation that developers had in mind. The large scope and multi-use program provided its own challenges. Inventing a coherent language for the design was not without its trials, but we are pleased that the end result has been well received.

Project Participants

Architect/Desinger: Robert, Christopher Barnes, Coy, Barnes Coy Architects

  • Other: The Weitz Company
  • Other: The Gallegos Corporation
  • Other: Davis Partnership Architects