How MOA Architecture brought two distinct visions to life inside FLORA, a mixed-use building redefining retail and work in Denver's RiNo Arts District.

Denver’s River North Arts District has been defined by reinvention — warehouse buildings turned galleries, industrial spaces adapted into creative workplaces, restaurants, and retail. Inside FLORA, a mixed-use development at 3500 Chestnut Place in RiNo, that evolution continues. Developed by Brock Fleming and Belay Development alongside Edee Anesi with Chestnut Island LLC, FLORA features 92 luxury apartments, artist-in-residence spaces and over 15,000 square feet of commercial space.

Within Flora, MOA Architecture recently completed the design of two very different commercial interior projects: Chestnut Cellars, a boutique wine-and-whiskey shop on the ground floor, and a speculative office suite on the fourth floor. Different clients and different goals, but both centered around the same idea — creating spaces that work well on day one while remaining adaptable over time.

A FIRST-TIME BUSINESS OWNER, A FIRST-GENERATION SPACE

Chris Gallegos had a specific vision for Chestnut Cellars, a bespoke wine-and-whiskey shop on the ground floor of FLORA in the heart of RiNo. What he lacked was experience navigating a first-generation retail build-out. Navigating a corporate career and opening his first business, he needed a design partner who could translate his vision into a buildable, permittable reality without the costly missteps that so often accompany first-generation retail build-outs.

First-generation build-outs require a different level of coordination than a typical tenant finish project. In most cases, the infrastructure serving a new ground-floor retail space is not fully ready for occupancy. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems need to be field verified, coordinated, and often adjusted against core and shell drawings that do not always perfectly reflect existing conditions. When slab penetrations or concrete pours are involved, that coordination becomes even more important, since mistakes can quickly impact schedule and cost.

MOA’s experience with first-generation tenant build-outs in Denver, including the permitting and zoning considerations that come with these projects, helped keep Chestnut Cellars moving forward without unnecessary delays or redesign during construction.

The design approach was centered around a simple reality: new businesses evolve quickly. What Chestnut Cellars looks like on opening day may be very different a few years from now, and the space was planned with that flexibility in mind.

Rather than relying heavily on fixed millwork and built-in displays, MOA developed a layout that could support freestanding shelving, movable product displays, and a point-of-sale setup Gallegos intends to source through local maker partnerships. This allows the shop to adapt its merchandising strategy over time without major demolition or infrastructure changes. Some components, like refrigeration and utility coordination, needed to be more permanent, so those requirements were incorporated early in the design and infrastructure planning. 

The design also anticipates future programming. Circulation and open areas were considered with future wine tastings and community events in mind, allowing the shop to function as both a retail destination and a gathering space.

The existing core and shell of the building provided a strong starting point. Rather than covering up the exposed structure and industrial character of the space, the design leaned into those materials as part of the overall finish approach and connection to RiNo’s identity.

Lighting was planned to remain flexible as the business evolves, allowing product displays and layouts to shift over time without requiring major rework. Areas for future branding, artwork, or murals were also intentionally left open-ended so the space could continue developing alongside the business instead of feeling overly fixed on day one.

A large part of the design process was knowing which decisions needed to be finalized early and which ones were better left adaptable for the future.

“From the beginning, I knew I wanted Chestnut Cellars to be more than a retail shop; I wanted it to be a place where people could discover new wines and spirits, attend tastings, connect with neighbors, and become part of a community. MOA understood that vision and helped create a space that feels authentic to who we are today while giving us the flexibility to grow into what Chestnut Cellars will become. The result is a space that feels distinctly RiNo, creative, approachable, and built for connection." Said Chris Gallegos.

NO TENANT. NO PROBLEM. DESIGNING SPECULATIVE OFFICE TO CLOSE THE DEAL.

On the fourth floor, MOA Architecture was tasked with designing a speculative office suite intended to attract future tenants before any tenant had been identified. The challenge was balancing marketability with flexibility — creating a workplace environment compelling enough to support leasing efforts while remaining adaptable to a wide range of future users.

To achieve this balance, MOA developed a phased build-out approach that established a range between a minimum and maximum level of completion. Rather than overcommitting to a single workplace layout or aesthetic, the strategy allowed the development team flexibility in upfront investment while still resolving key planning and infrastructure decisions early in the process. Core planning decisions such as zoning, circulation, systems coordination, and code compliance were addressed upfront so the space could be adapted to future tenant needs with reduced redesign and permitting impacts later.

The suite was organized around a planning strategy the team referred to as “WE” spaces and “ME” spaces. Shared collaborative areas, amenities, and gathering spaces were positioned to take advantage of the floor’s strongest features, including mountain views, access to a private balcony, proximity to the South Platte River and Cherry Creek Trail, and direct elevator access into the suite. The intent was to create shared experiences and amenities that would remain valuable regardless of the eventual tenant.

More focused work areas, including workstations, private offices, and focus rooms, were designed for flexibility. The layout allows future tenants to adjust the ratio of collaborative to heads-down work environments without requiring major changes to the underlying infrastructure or overall planning strategy.

"One of the goals at FLORA has always been to create spaces that can adapt alongside the people and businesses that occupy them. RiNo is constantly evolving, and successful mixed-use buildings need to support that evolution rather than limit it. Whether it's an entrepreneur opening their first storefront or a future office tenant looking for a workplace that reflects changing ways of working, flexibility is critical. The speculative office suite and Chestnut Cellars are very different projects, but both demonstrate how thoughtful design can create long-term value by allowing spaces to evolve over time rather than locking them into a single use or identity." Said Brock Fleming

DESIGNING WITHIN A MIXED-USE ENVIRONMENT

Mixed-use buildings bring inherent complexity. Residential, retail, office, amenity, and building support spaces often share structure, infrastructure, and adjacencies that require careful coordination across disciplines early in the design process.

At FLORA, MOA worked through several technical considerations tied to the realities of designing workplace space within a mixed-use building environment. Building and fire code requirements required coordination between residential and commercial occupancies, particularly where systems and floor plates intersected. 

While these types of challenges are rarely the most visible parts of a project, they often have a major impact on how a space ultimately performs once occupied. Addressing them early in design helped reduce downstream construction issues and allowed the project team to better coordinate architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and acoustical considerations before construction moved forward.

FLORA AS A MODEL FOR WHAT'S NEXT

The two projects within FLORA reflect a shared design approach applied across very different programs. Chestnut Cellars is rooted in retail — a space built around one business owner’s vision and the realities of launching a first-generation storefront in RiNo. The speculative office suite reflects a workplace-focused approach, balancing tenant attraction, flexibility, and long-term adaptability within a competitive leasing environment. Both, however, prioritize adaptability over rigid definition.

MOA Architecture brings this same approach across the different sectors the firm works in, including workplace, retail, education, healthcare, science and technology, hospitality, and industrial projects. That cross-sector experience is a large part of what allows the firm to work effectively within mixed-use environments, where different occupancies, systems, operational needs, and user experiences often overlap within the same building. 

Through collaboration between MOA Architecture, PKMR Engineering, Apex Engineers, Inc., Chris Gallegos as tenant, Brock Fleming and Belay Development as development manager, and Layton ICS as general contractor, both projects within FLORA are nearing completion. From early planning and permitting through construction, the process relied on strong communication, teamwork, and a group of people genuinely invested in making the projects successful. Chestnut Cellars is now preparing to open its doors this fall, while the fourth-floor speculative office suite remains on track for delivery in September — a reflection of a team that worked well together, solved problems quickly, and enjoyed the process along the way.