Nestled in the heart of downtown Denver stands the iconic Oxford Hotel, a living testament to the city’s rich history and architectural legacy. Since its opening in October 1891, the Oxford has welcomed travelers from far and wide, offering a glimpse into Denver’s storied past and a taste of its vibrant present.

As the oldest hotel in downtown Denver, the Oxford holds a special place in the city’s history. Its grand architecture and timeless charm serve as a reminder of Denver’s frontier past and its evolution into a modern metropolis. 

Today, as the city evolves, The Oxford Hotel remains a hospitality destination, blending historic charm with modern amenities to provide guests an unforgettable experience. 

“It was the height of the silver and gold boom, so plenty of people were coming west to stake their fortune, and they needed somewhere to stay,” explains Julie Dunn, public relations representative for The Oxford Hotel. “When the hotel was built, it was the tallest building in downtown Denver at five stories tall. We have some fun old newspaper clips that people used to come down here to enjoy the bird’s-eye view of the city from the fifth-floor windows.” 

As Denver grew, so did The Oxford Hotel. Over the years, the hotel has undergone numerous renovations and updates to ensure it remains a premier destination for travelers. 

“While we cherish our historic roots, we also strive to provide our guests with all the modern comforts and conveniences they expect,” Dunn says. 

Modernize Heating Without Compromising Historic Character

One of the most significant updates to The Oxford Hotel came in the form of replacing an aging boiler system with a new heating and hot water system. The hotel chose HBC Mechanical out of Frisco, Colo., to install an entirely new setup. 

HBC Mechanical worked with manufacturers’ representative Priest-Zimmerman and the Navien commercial sales team to spec out an installation that included a series of nine NFB-399C high-efficiency condensing heating boilers and 14 NPE-240A2 tankless water heaters. 

Mike Michna, the chief engineer at The Oxford Hotel, was focused on maintaining the charm and integrity of a historic building while meeting the demands of contemporary hospitality. 

“Preserving the integrity of The Oxford Hotel’s infrastructure while upgrading its mechanical systems requires a delicate balance between tradition and innovation,” he says. “The Navien system offered us the perfect solution to modernize our heating and hot water capabilities without compromising the hotel’s historic character.” 

The size and space requirements of the boilers and the tankless water heaters, and the ability to sequence them together for optimal performance in serving a large commercial property, proved to be extremely beneficial. 

“The boilers and tankless water heaters gave us a flexible and efficient solution to the hotel’s heating and hot water needs,” Michna notes. “By combining multiple units in a modular configuration, we could tailor the system to the hotel’s specific requirements while maximizing energy efficiency.” 

The installation process, although complex due to the building’s historic architecture, was streamlined by the units’ compact design and the unique way the manifold system is constructed. 

“Navigating the narrow stairways and confined spaces to get down to the boiler room presented logistical challenges, but the compact size and modular nature of the Navien equipment made it feasible,” says Joe Jensen of HBC Mechanical. “We could carry the heating and domestic water boilers downstairs and put them in place. Instead of tearing down a boiler and rebuilding it in the basement, the boilers were already built.” 

The modular Ready-Link manifold system “simplified the installation process and minimized disruption to hotel operations,” he adds. “All the piping was prefabbed for us, so all we had to do was unbox the piping, put it in and attach it to the modular racking system. It was plug-and-play and made what we thought would be a difficult installation into a pretty simple one.”

Minimize Environmental Impact While Maintaining Standards

The system’s energy efficiency and reliability have had a tangible impact on The Oxford Hotel’s operational costs, environmental footprint and sustainability efforts in historic preservation. They are also helping meet the goals of the Energized Denver initiative, which provides incentives and benchmarks for commercial buildings to reduce their total carbon footprint with a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2040. 

“As stewards of this historic landmark, we have a responsibility to minimize our environmental impact while maintaining the highest standards of hospitality,” Michna notes. “The Navien system has allowed us to achieve significant energy savings without sacrificing guest comfort. 

“Since its installation, we’ve seen significant improvements in energy efficiency and reliability. I knew it would save money — I didn’t know how much. It only took us five months before seeing the monthly savings reach the 30-plus and 40-plus percentages.” 

Dunn explains: “It’s important to The Oxford. The hotel is very busy; we are sold out regularly. We’ve got 80 guest rooms, a bar, a restaurant, a spa, a fitness center, two ballrooms and multiple meeting space options. So, when we’re firing on all cylinders, we need to have hot water that is easily accessible and ready for everyone. Installing the Navien system helped us maintain that, elevate those offerings and make it seamless in our historic space.” 

The Oxford Hotel represents a triumph of tradition and technology, showcasing the transformative power of innovative solutions in historic preservation. As cities grapple with the dual challenges of preserving their architectural legacy and adapting to modern demands, projects such as The Oxford Hotel serve as inspiration for sustainable development. 

Brett Butler is Navien’s marketing communications manager.