Denver Union Station is buzzing with activity -- not only from transit passengers and diners, but now from the recently installed rooftop honeybee colonies.
The four hives are home to about 5,000 to 10,000 honeybees each. Union Station's restaurants and retail outlets plan to start incorporating the harvested honey into their food and drink offerings later this summer.
"Urban beekeeping is a surprisingly successful phenomenon," says Denver Union Station beekeeper Caitlin Rose Kenney. "If the honeybees' basic needs are met, they are inspiringly resourceful and productive. The Denver Union Station's bees are a perfect example of this and are thriving this season."
Denver Union Station has become downtown Denver's hottest gathering place since it reopened in July 2014 after a $54 million renovation. The historic landmark train station is home to an eclectic mix of 12 Colorado restaurants and retail outlets created by Colorado-based Larimer Associates.
"We are dedicated to supporting local businesses at Denver Union Station and to be as sustainable as possible, so installing beehives on the roof seemed like an obvious idea," says Joe Vostrejs, partner at
Larimer Associates and a member of the Union Station redevelopment team. "We are pleased to be a part of the urban agriculture movement."
Contact Confluence Denver Development News Editor Margaret Jackson with tips and leads for future stories at margaret@confluence-denver.com.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.