404 HOTEL
GUNNISON, COLORADO
May 2023
THE OVERVIEW
Exceptional Comfort
Modern design built to the Passive House Standard: ultra-low energy, high comfort sustainable construction appealing to patrons of this ecotourism destination
High Capacity
26 Rooms including penthouse honeymoon suite, rooftop conference/ event room
Walkable Location
Unique, boutique hotel on main street, walkable to local businesses and Western Colorado University Campus
More Efficient
90% More efficient than conventional building
Health and Wellness
100% filtered air, non-toxic construction
Community Growth Bar & coffee shop w/ separate entry; gift shop with local crafts, books etc
Design Vision
As experts in high-performance design, our approach is highly contextual, beautifully resource efficient and in harmony with the natural environment.
Shape Architecture Studio
Exterior Patio Rendering
We hold a great reverence for the magic and escapism a hotel can provide.
Passive House is the most ambitious energy efficiency standard worldwide, resulting in 90% more efficiency than conventional buildings and low initial cost premium due to reduced mechanical systems.
High-performance windows and super insulation provide uniform temperatures, filtered air, and non-toxic materials, creating maximum comfort levels.
Shape Architecture Studio Lobby Rendering
DELUXE ROOMS
We envision rooms flooded with natural light through large windows and offering breathtaking views of the Sawatch Range and Gunnison Natural Forest. Our accommodations with mountain views are 300+ sq feet, and include choice of queen or king beds, as well as optional corner city views.
When booking the Penthouse Room (floorplan right) you’ll have rooftop access to a spacious and convivial gathering space - with breathtaking views of the sweeping plains and natural beauty of the area.
Suites feature hardwood floors, spacious porcelain tiled baths with benches, comfy robes, natural locallycrafted bath amenities, a home for your valuables, Bluetooth enabled radio alarm with dual USB charging points, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and a Samsung flat screen with DirecTV. Our custom-designed beds and lighting are specifically designed with comfort in mind.
Inspiration from the Eddy Hotel
Inspiration from the Eddy Hotel
Inspiration from the Eddy Hotel
EVENT SPACE, LOBBY & DINING
Contemporary Scandinavian design concepts throughout the hotel invoke calmness, harmony, and inspiration - providing a unique and beautiful experience from the moment guests walk through the doors. Carefully designed to inspire gathering with friends, family, and locals of the Gunnison Valley, the lobby cafe and community areas are places to work, relax or socialize all day and late into the evening.
Our coveted luxury event space will be in demand for events. Businesses, weddings, fundraisers, and family events will be drawn to the space from all over the region. As a place that guests will want to work, socialize and be a part of, our design emphasizes community and provides an inspirational space for people from all over to gather and connect.
The lobby and dining areas will integrate interior and exterior environments to include sweeping views of the valley. Living walls, clean lines, games, fireplace, books, natural finishes and soft lighting provide a relaxing environment to purchase libations. A large table can be utilized to accommodate remote workers or guests who want to want to experience a catered dinner from our chef inspired menu. Compact interior niches will provide guests the option to work more privately.
A retail area will showcase locally made gifts and souvenirs. A bar will serve as the marketplace for guests to grab a bite on the go or enjoy non-alcoholic revitalizing health beverages and crafted cocktails. City bicycles will be available to cruise the streets and alleyways of Gunnison.
Our guests’ experience will be one of AWE.
Inspiration fro the Eddy Hotel
Inspiration from the Delaware Hotel, Shape Architecture studio
• Annual Revenue: $4M
• Average Nightly Rate: $340
• Average Room Rate: $200+ per night
• Expected Occupancy Rate: 80%+ in summer, 60%+ in winter
• Gross Income per Year: $1,000,000
• Net Profit: 30%
• Return on Investment: 6% - 8%
• Ownership Options
• Minimum Investment: $500,000
THE OPPORTUNITY.
TO CRESTED BUTTE: 30 MINUTES
WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY
US 50
TO SALIDA/ DENVER
TOBLACKCANYON: 1HOUR
MAIN STREET
AIRPORT
US50
STREET
MAIN
HOTEL
Gunnison has proximity to every outdoor activity you can dream of, and is nicknamed the “Base Camp of the Rockies”
.
THE POTENTIAL
TOURISM
Gunnison boasts incredible skiing at the Crested Butte Ski Area, the largest body of water in Colorado for boating, fishing, hiking at Blue Mesa, excellent rock climbing at Harmelsand, and world-class fly fishing in the Black Canyon National Park of the Gunnison River.
Western State University boasts a brand new 80M Engineering Department. The Ice Lab, a small business incubator, promotes growing businesses in the area.
GROWING POPULATION
Originally home to Ute Native Tribe, by the mid-1870s, the mountains of Gunnison County were dotted with many small mining camps. Today it is home to a growing population of 17,000. Like other mountain towns in Colorado, the economy in Gunnison and Crested Butte is surprisingly diverse even though tourism is the largest driver. Other leading industries include public lands, education, healthcare and business. There is also a thriving small business and entrepreneurial community.
NEW HEIGHTS IN NET ZERO
Gunnison is measurably the coldest town in the lower 48 states, so achieving Net Zero will be especially rewarding, a feat worthy of putting this hotel on the map!
GOING LOCAL
The rich natural resources in the area allow builders to use local and sustainably harvested materials. The remnants of mining town era historical building La Veta Hotel will be utilized here to pay tribute to and preserve the connection to the town’s mining history.
https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/gunnison-county
The economy in Gunnison and Crested Butte is surprisingly diverse even though tourism is the largest driver, bringing in $23M in 2018 from Black Canyon and the surrounding area.
gunnisoncrestedbutte.com
WHY PEOPLE VISIT
Downtown Gunnison has a growing business district with an eclectic restaurant scene and affordable hotels. Head north from town and you’ll end up in Crested Butte, passing through Almont, the home of the confluence of the East and Taylor rivers that forms the great Gunnison River. It’s the second largest tributary to the Colorado River.
Mountain bikers, trail runners, campers, dirt bikers and rock climbers find paradise in Black Canyon and Hartman Rocks Recreation Area, which includes 8,000 acres of sculpted granite beckoning adventurers. Its more than 50 miles of technical, high-desert singletrack trails range from beginner to expert and are especially popular in the spring months. All of that track makes it a mountain biker’s paradise (especially in spring); in the winter its trails and roads at are groomed for fat biking and cross-country skiing.
Head west and the valley drops away into the Curecanti National Recreation Area, Blue Mesa Reservoir and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. In the summer, the reservoir — Colorado’s largest body of water — is full of canoes, sailboats, pontoon and motor boats, and people water-skiing, fishing and even parasailing in the refreshing water. Summer also brings out mountain-bike fanatics to explore the area’s 750 miles of trails. Scenic byway lovers should hop on the West Elk Loop, which meanders through Gunnison, Crested Butte, Paonia and other mountain towns throughout the West Elk Mountains.
Gunnison shines in the winter as well. Just 30 miles from Crested Butte Mountain Resort and 45 from Monarch Mountain, visitors have plenty of options in addition to the Gunnison Nordic Center’s groomed cross-county trails, snowmobiling, ice-skating and more.
Home to Western Colorado University, students drawn to the town’s abundant beauty and recreation help ensure there’s a youthful vibe, and its walkable downtown is packed with shops, cafes and spots to wet your whistle. Consider yourself a history buff? Try the Gunnison Pioneer Museum for its expansive railroad exhibit.
colorado.com/cities-and-towns/gunnison
HISTORIC MAIN STREET
LA VETA HOTEL, 1930, 200 rooms, built in 1884 during mining boom
A RICH HISTORY
The 404 Hotel will draw inspiration from the original boutique hotel in Gunnison’s history - the lavish 200 room La Veta Hotel built during the mining boom - by incorporating design details to recall and honor the town’s historical roots.
HISTORIC GUNNISON MAP
SMITHWORKS NATURAL HOMES
ELIZABETH & DON Founders
A mutual love of the mountains independently brought Don and Elizabeth Smith to Crested Butte after they both finished college in the 1990s. More than thirty years later, they still share a love of the area’s legendary mountain biking, skiing, hiking and camping. In this close, tight-knit community, they have begun and managed several successful businesses and raised two young adult children.
Don is well-known throughout the valley for building stunning, high-efficiency custom homes. His eye for detail, respect for craftsmanship and keen foresight continue to keep him on the cutting edge of new and evolving building technologies and toxin-free, sustainable materials that substantially reduce energy consumption. And, Don’s diligence, thoughtful planning and collaborative process have resulted in lasting relationships with satisfied clients.
Elizabeth has a decades-long background working in the hospitality business. She owns a well-known property-management and short-term rental company, and enjoys meeting new people and ensuring they have exceptional experiences while visiting the valley. In addition to her property management business, Elizabeth employs her strong communication and organizational skills to help manage SmithWorks Natural Homes. She takes pride in working to smoothly integrate
the myriad of creative and construction steps together into successful finished projects.
Deeply rooted in the Gunnison Valley community, Don and Elizabeth together present a dynamic team with a substantial track record of integrity and success. Their unique combination of skills have informed their vision for an iconic, city-changing project for the City of Gunnison.
OUR ARCHITECT AND ENGINEERING
Shape Architecture Studio is a contemporary architecture firm based in Denver, Colorado. We are experts in sustainable architecture. We believe homes should be healthier and more comfortable to inhabit, consume less energy, and respond better to the surrounding local community and climate. Our designs are highly contextual, work in harmony with the natural environment, and are beautifully resilient.
ENGINEERING PARTNERS
Resource Engineering Group provides Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Commissioning engineering under one roof to visualize the challenges and opportunities of your project and streamline communication. We were among the first engineers of record to promote and design, radiant cooling, night-sky radiation, dedicated outside air systems, ground-source heat pumps, passive cooling towers, solar thermal and solar electric arrays, a variety of advances in strawbale framing systems, and many alternative framing materials.
CONTACT US DON SMITH Smithworks Natural Homes PHONE EMAIL 970-209-5674 info@404hotel.co