New thresholds

September 2013 brought a couple of milestones to Braydon Denham

This elegant staircase connects the Denham Ford showroom with the admin offices on the mezzanine. — Marie Milner photo

The light-filled showroom at the brand new Denham Ford dealership in Cranbrook, B.C., is finished in maple wood and muted colours. It is a perfect showcase for the four bright and shining Ford vehicles parked in the space.

The Denham family owns automobile dealerships in Alberta, and 32-year-old Braydon Denham is managing the family’s first B.C. dealership. Denham took over Millennium Ford when he moved to Cranbrook from Alberta in December 2007. The dealership opened the doors to its new premises on September 9.

The building design originated with Denham himself.

“I probably did a few hundred drawings,” Denham laughed, “and eventually came back to my first one. Then, of course, my drawings went to the engineers and other experts.”

A gracefully curved floating staircase rises from the middle of the showroom to a mezzanine that accommodates offices, a conference room and a spacious, fully equipped bistro-style lunchroom for the staff, with a wall of south-facing windows.

That lovely staircase is going to occupy an extra special place in the Denham family memory bank—it will be the backdrop for Denham and his bride in their wedding photos.