Located directly across from the historic St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Marian House Soup Kitchen is one of the first structures seen as you enter downtown Colorado Springs. Owned by Catholic Charities, the Marian House recognized the need for a new building as it was becoming an increasing challenge to provide services from their outdated and undersized facility. Plans were made to allow them to better serve those in need, from serving daily meals and distributing donated items to providing community assistance. As a gateway building to the city of Colorado Springs, the first goal was to create a structure that fit the aesthetic of the surrounding buildings. The new 15,725-square-foot facility is designed with a brick façade, a metal roof and architectural features to reflect the design of neighboring St. Mary’s Cathedral. From a functional standpoint the new facility offers a larger dining room, a safer more efficient kitchen and the larger basement for increased storage. Consideration was also given to long term operating costs, with the use of two layers of ridged insulation and incorporating a roof with a high R Value for reduced energy costs. The limited construction site was a particular challenge, occupying three-quarters of the current Marian House site with construction fencing lining up with the existing building. Although demolition of a portion of the existing structure was required to complete the new facility, the team remained sensitive to ongoing operations and the clientele, many of whom struggle with mental and social disabilities. Constant communication with the staff, volunteers, and those served by the Marian House was facilitated with signage, team meetings, and ongoing daily communication. The Marian House Soup Kitchen serves a vital role in the downtown Colorado Springs area and vital to the success of the project was the constant consideration given to those involved, affected and served by the Marian House Soup Kitchen.
