Bessemer Renewal

Shortlisted for Archisource Drawing of the Year Awards 2025 - Published in Archisource Ideas Pocketbook.

Once a thriving industrial hub, Pueblo’s Bessemer neighborhood has faced economic hardship since the steel mill’s decline, leading to high unemployment and widespread poverty. With the city’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2035, this project aims to revitalize Bessemer by creating a community center focused on sustainable growth and workforce development.

The center will offer hands-on workshops in trades like solar panel installation, electrical work, and construction, equipping residents with skills for modern, sustainable jobs. Partnering with local businesses that need skilled maintenance workers, these programs create direct pathways to employment.

The building incorporates sustainable design elements, including the use of recycled steel from the historic steel mill, skylights for ample daylighting, large overhangs and integrated awnings to block excessive sunlight, and a solar panel canopy that provides outdoor shading while generating renewable energy.

Inside, workshops, classrooms, and a flexible multi-use space on the main floor showcases real-time data from the building’s solar panels, creating an interactive hub for education and community gatherings. By blending sustainable design with economic opportunity, this project offers both a response to Bessemer’s challenges and a vision for Pueblo’s renewable energy future