Project Spotlight: Red Rocks Custom Mural

Red Rocks is hallowed ground for music and nature lovers alike, so when Perkins & Will began work on the Visitor Center, the pressure was on to get the design just right. Project designer Miranda Dooley teamed up with Fireclay to navigate the challenge, using 37,000 1x1 mosaics to build a pixelated, detail-rich tribute to the surrounding monoliths.

We sat down with Miranda to talk about the nuances of the custom Red Rocks mural and the logistics of a project this ambitious.

Hi Miranda! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and Perkins & Will?

Hello! I’m Miranda, project interior designer with Perkins & Will. I’ve been with the Denver studio for the past 9 years specializing on Sports, Recreation, and Entertainment focused projects. I’ve always had a passion for all things design and really enjoy this creative career.

Tell us about this incredible project at the Red Rocks Visitor Center. What can you share about The Shiprock Grille and the custom mosaic feature wall? What were the goals for this space?

The Shiprock Grille restaurant renovation project kicked off the first phase of renovations to the Red Rocks Visitor Center, which had phased plans to renovate the entire building. I ideated design concepts for the whole building so the restaurant would fit well within its context, but wanted the restaurant to have its own special features too. That’s where the Fireclay custom mosaic entered the scene. The prior restaurant was due for some finish upgrades and an entirely new kitchen. We relocated the bar within the space which created a great blank canvas for a feature moment.

Red Rocks is an iconic location. How did the unique environment and history of Creation Rock influence your initial vision for this project?

The environment and site of Red Rocks is true beauty and living inspiration! Working and living within 30 minutes of this site is not something I take for granted. Whether it’s concerts, hiking, or early morning yoga on the rocks this place is so special to so many and has inspired me long before I knew I would have the amazing opportunity to design here. But equally inspiring was working alongside our client and my principals who designed and built the original building. This project team had a wealth of knowledge about Red Rocks history and held such a genuine focus for preserving the magic of the rocks. The rocks spoke, and we listened. Leaning into the colorways, textures, and patterns found right in the surrounding landscape while balancing the function and practicality of a very popular venue. The vision for this project formed so organically and it was truly an honor to be the project designer.

With approximately 37,000 pieces of 1x1 tile, this project is a true feat of artistry. What were the key considerations and challenges in translating your design concept into such a large-scale mosaic, and how did you approach the detailed development of the image?

There were certainly important considerations for this mural, first was selecting the photo of Creation Rock that became the basis of the design inspiration. The proportions of the photo had to be just right to fit the full length of the wall while preserving the natural height and majestic nature of the rock. As this process unfolded, the selected inspiration photo that was the driving influence for the design actually came from an individual on staff with Red Rocks. I then worked closely with Fireclay to refine iterations of how the shape and colors formed, intentionally with the 1”x1” size so we could be very detailed. Simultaneously I worked closely with our contractor to finalize the design of adjacent ceiling and walls on site to verify the conditions so we were designing to an accurate and realistic installation. 

Beyond the sheer scale, what made Fireclay Tile's custom capabilities the ideal solution for bringing this mural to life?

One of the best aspects about using Fireclay Tile for this application, aside from the multiple mosaic sizes to choose from, is the wide array of beautiful and rich glazes. Color selection was a very important part to the overall restaurant design concept and an important part of this mural. We had the chance to blend so many beautiful colors together, increasing our initial glaze selection from 10 colors to a final 15 colors. The design team at Fireclay was also great at studying the mosaic sizes, working through the glaze assignments, responding to my feedback, and appropriately mapping the mural for the installation team.

Can you speak to the process of working with the Fireclay team, from initial concept to the final installation, and how that partnership helped realize your vision?

The partnership with Fireclay on this piece was incredibly ideal, a designer's dream! Fireclay is a fun and responsive team to work with and they have great recommendations and experience. In this situation we had many aspects of construction ongoing during our development. We involved Fireclay early and they were patient as our designs developed, but that allowed all of us time to be prepared and align as everything in the field was refined. I had many calls and emails with Fireclay and they were great interpreters of my feedback. From the time I sent Fireclay the first introduction to this project to the time the tile was installed we had been in communication about this feature for over a year, but this was truly a synchronized  and smooth process. While it took time, I love that this mural involved so many talented hands, and has so much heart.

What insights or advice would you offer to other designers considering an ambitious custom tile project?

The simplest advice, work with Fireclay :) Additional insights include taking time during design development to seriously consider and research the manufacturer offerings and the company’s alignment and integrity before specification. Consider how the design and materials impact the wellness of everyone involved both short and long term, including impacts to our earth, then work with teams that align and promote your goals. Also, prepare transparent documentation and concept proof for the required level of finish, lead and schedule timing, budget considerations, multi-trade communications, and engagement with on site conditions and development.

Interested in starting your own custom mural process? Book a free exploratory consultation here.