Guy Masterson

Review of Blythe Group

Blythe Group + co is the Mini SOM of the Western S...

Blythe Group + co is the Mini SOM of the Western Slope of Colorado. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of 10,000 projects in 50 countries including One World Trade Center, the JPM Chase Building about to be replaced by a Mr Foster Design, 875 N Michigan Ave Chicago and DENVER'S Union Station must be proud to have relation, through architectural DNA, to the Blythe Group + co. Let's focus in on just 3 of their many works: Mesa County Justice Center, The Shaw Building on Horizon & the Rio Grande Credit Union Building on Rood. In truth, this is amazing work. The real spirit of architecture, what differentiates the art from the distilled physics of engineering, is the crafting of human experience through the language of space, materials and design. The Justice Center, from underground tunnels, to modernist glass, green marble and elegant-for-budget-woodwork-of-jurisprudence, welcomes us all to go watch our rule of law at work. The material variation of the Shaw building is excellent. The blend of modern and traditional is accomplished to an international class. If I were not already a member of Rio Grande, I would go join, just to absorb the mood of the building. Very few architectural groups could come near such a wonderful answer to Rio Grande's vision ripeness as Blythe Group + co crafted into reality. The caliber of design capability this outfit wields is truly special, and very flexible from one project to the next. They are not pushing their favorite elements or products. They are tailoring brick, steel, glass and stone into whatever must be.