Historic Nurses Dorm at 9th & Colorado Slated for Wellness-Focused Redevelopment

DENVER, CO – A long-vacant 1927 dormitory building inside the 9th and Colorado redevelopment is moving toward a new life. Concept plans have been filed for the historic Nurses Dorm at 4200 E. 9th Avenue, outlining plans to adaptively reuse the three story masonry structure into a mixed use wellness and office destination.

Site Plans Sourced from Concept Plan Submission

Originally constructed as housing for nursing students, the building later transitioned into administrative and medical uses under the University of Colorado before eventually sitting vacant. In January 2024, the property was officially added to both the National and State Register of Historic Places, solidifying its architectural and historical significance within the Hale neighborhood.

Now, ownership entity CP Nurses Dorm LLC, affiliated with Continuum Partners, is advancing plans to reposition the approximately 25,000 to 27,000 square foot building through a full interior rehabilitation. Unlike a traditional office conversion, the proposal leans heavily into wellness programming.

Plans show the basement level dedicated to fitness and recovery functions including infrared saunas, cold plunge rooms, red light therapy suites, group compression therapy space, locker rooms, and support areas. The ground floor is designed to activate the building with a lobby coffee shop, grab and go food concept, meeting and event rooms, and coworking space.

Upper floors would contain smaller leasable office suites, medical office space, shared conference rooms, and lounge amenities, creating a hybrid environment that blends workspace with health and recovery services.

Because of the building’s historic designation, the exterior superstructure, façade, and roof will be preserved in accordance with Department of Interior standards. Ownership intends to pursue both State and Federal historic tax credits to support the rehabilitation effort.

While the exterior will remain largely intact, the interior has already been fully gutted. The renovation scope includes new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire sprinkler systems, life safety upgrades, and improvements to vertical transportation.

The 1.1 acre site will also see general site upgrades including utilities, landscaping, surface parking totaling 32 spaces, and improvements to the adjacent right of way.

According to the concept narrative, a Site Development Plan and building permit submittal are anticipated in Spring 2026, with construction targeted to begin in Fall 2026.

If approved, the redevelopment would represent another adaptive reuse milestone within the broader 9th and Colorado district, continuing the area’s evolution from former medical campus to a more diverse mix of residential, retail, and commercial uses.

More importantly, it signals a shift in how older office and institutional buildings are being repositioned in Denver. Rather than chasing traditional office demand, the project proposes a hybrid model built around coworking, medical uses, and wellness driven programming.

In a post pandemic market where flexibility and experiential space matter more than square footage alone, the Nurses Dorm may become a test case for what adaptive reuse looks like in Denver’s next cycle.

All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.

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All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.