On our way to meeting in the River North Arts District, we drove by a metal door with peeling lettering that read: UNIT 5. We wondered, “What if that door led to Denver’s best-kept secret?” And so our concept project was born.

UNIT 5 is an industrial speakeasy serving up exquisite cocktails in an underground warehouse. We envisioned a stark and expansive space dominated by deep shadows and materials that emphasize function and structure: concrete, glass, steel. To bring our vision to life, we devised a minimalist type system that adheres rigorously to a modular grid, and selected a muted color palette that reinforces the presence of raw industrialist materials. Photographic direction plays a key role in the visual language, portraying guests in the style of thermal imaging. They become participants in redefining UNIT 5’s identity nightly, contributing indispensable warmth and charisma that transforms the warehouse into a beating cultural pulse beneath the city.