Colorado Real Estate Journal - September 19, 2018
Denver-based architecture firm Clutch Design Studio designed Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co. as Castle Rock’s newest addition to the Colorado craft beer scene. Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co. is a contemporary gesture to the site’s long history and sets a precedent for future developments to come. The project is scheduled to be completed this fall. Located on a prominent corner of Wilcox Street, the new development is a nod to the owners’ – Andrew, Rachel and Dean Wasson – U.S. Air Force background, capturing a strong sense of adventure throughout the development’s interior. “We moved to Castle Rock several years ago and immediately fell in love the with charm and sense of community,” said WBY co-owner Andrew Wasson. “Castle Rock is growing tremendously right now and the historic downtown Castle Rock area still has some of that original Old West appeal. The time was perfect to pursue one of our dreams and capture this evolution of mixing old and new, bringing a new vibrancy to the town.” When looking for an architect for the project, the WBY owners knew they needed to find an team who could handle some of the challenges of the site. “There is a historic 1902 Victorian home and an even older 1887-built carriage house,” said Wasson. “We wanted to honor the classic buildings, but bring in a modern addition. We felt Clutch had the best vision to incorporate all our criteria. They established a design that gave a nod to the wild blue yonder, but not forgetting where you came from. The entire team has been incredible to work with since Day One.” Choosing to celebrate the process and not hide the beer production facilities, the interior places the brewery front and center with tanks on display from both the exterior corner and the interior dining area. The bar top design is aligned with the bars subtle Air Force theme, decorated with an illustrative art piece displaying all the flights in the world currently in the air, filled with people exploring the wild blue yonder. “We love the large open design with soaring ceilings, large doors and windows that fill the space with natural light,” Wasson said. “One of our favorite aspects is the large bar with a one-of-kind countertop depicting flight paths, building on our adventure theme. The center of the bar will be Castle Rock, which we hope will be the starting point for many more adventures in our lives and our patrons’ lives.” In terms of design, Clutch Design Studio pulled inspiration from other beer halls of similar volume, with a modern farmhouse palette expressed in the wood paneling and decorative lighting. “We have created an atmosphere that pulls people in from the street corner and activates the experience from the front patio all the way through the bar and into the rear courtyard,” said Kristen Tonsager, head of interior design for Clutch Design Studio. “The expansive volume of the space captures that feeling of the endless blue sky and allows visitors to ‘choose their own adventure’ by exploring different seating experiences and adjacencies to the different functions of the brewhouse.”