THE SLATE DENVER TRANSFORMS A HISTORIC BUILDING INTO AN URBAN GETAWAY FOR MODERN TRAVELERS.
The Slate’s landmark building was once a vocational school. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SLATE DENVER
SCHOOL IS IN SESSION at The Slate Denver (slatedenver.com). Downtown’s newest accommodations opened in May on the site of the former Emily Griffith Opportunity School. Because of its historic significance, developer Stonebridge Companies was required to maintain the integrity of the 1926 brick building. That’s a boon for guests who get the benefit of wide hallways, 12-foot guest room ceilings and plenty of natural light.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SLATE DENVER
Nods to the venue’s schoolhouse past abound: The chalkboard behind the library card catalog-inspired front desk is covered in an artistic rendering of original lesson plans. The tile-walled stairwells were carefully restored. And the hotel’s name is inscribed on a No. 2 pencil sculpture hanging above Welton Street. “The stairwells will take you back to high school whether you like that or not,” jokes group sales manager Bryan Koontz.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SLATE DENVER
The Slate’s 251 guest rooms (six are suites) occupy former classrooms and offices. They feature standing desks, rain showers and steamers (rather than irons). Each bathroom is decorated with custom-made wallpaper, with designs inspired by textbooks discovered on the property. Guests also have access to a 24-hour fitness center outfitted with Peloton and Technogym cardio equipment, plus built-in towel chillers for post-sweat cool-downs.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SLATE DENVER
The Slate Denver is the only Colorado property in Hilton’s Tapestry Collection of independent, urban venues developed on historic sites. The hotel’s central location—across the street from the Colorado Convention Center—is a clear draw for business travelers. But The Slate also appeals to a broader audience with its indoor-outdoor lobby spaces (heated in winter) and Teachers’ Lounge Food & Drink, an American eatery set in what was once the actual teachers’ lounge. In the coming years, two neighboring buildings and the adjacent alleyway will be developed with more restaurants and retail, swapping the sound of school bells for the buzz of happy hour.
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