Walking up to Limelight, you can’t miss the building — it takes up more than a city block. But oddly, I had to circle the block to find the entrance. From Broadway (the main street), there’s no obvious “start here” moment. You see the parking garage, but no clear path that says, this is where guests arrive. By the time I reached the tucked-away campus street entrance, I was already wondering why something so prominent made it so hard to welcome me in.

Once inside, though, the ambiance is stunning. The lobby is one huge rectangular room framed on three sides: a bar straight ahead with floor-to-ceiling windows, reception to the left, and the conference hall to the right. It smells like fresh bread (yes, really), the music is low and easy, and the vibe is very indoor-outdoor Colorado meets Côte d’Azur — lots of wood, neutrals, pops of lemon yellow and royal blue. The space feels thoughtful: purse hooks under the bar, clustered seating areas with room to breathe, and plants softening the edges.

Wayfinding is a head-scratcher. No one tells you where anything is, and the signage is subtle to the point of being invisible. I had to walk across the entire lobby before spotting a tiny “elevators” sign. The bathrooms are hidden behind a corner, and the restaurant beyond the bamboo-style divider has no signage, menu, or hours posted. You figure it out eventually, but it doesn’t invite you in.

Staff-wise, the doorman nailed it — warm, eye contact, made me feel welcome. Beyond that, silence. I wandered for almost an hour without anyone acknowledging me. For a place that feels so carefully designed, the lack of human touch was surprising. And the big “Hotel guests only” sign on the fruit water station? This is such a small gesture (and an even smaller overhead price tag) to offer water freely to create a good impression. In fact, this signage alone made me feel a bit bashful about approaching staff because I wasn’t a paying hotel guest. Every person who walks in the door should be treated as your future customer.

The flow overall works: even with a live college conference, there were no bottlenecks. Wide halls, ADA lift by the restrooms, good circulation. The outdoor deck has gorgeous views of the Flatirons and tons of texture — umbrellas on the lawn, tiered levels up to the pool. But by midday, half the deck is roasting in the sun with no shade. You want to linger, but your skin says otherwise. I also didn’t see any wait-staff outside for the indoor restaurant, and I was left wondering, “Can you eat out here? Just drinks? Where do I order?”

1. Wayfinding: Add tasteful, consistent signage for elevators, restrooms, and restaurant — in keeping with the natural design language.
   
   
2. Hospitality Gesture: Remove the “Paying guests only” restriction from the infused water station. Providing water to all visitors creates a positive impression at negligible cost.
   
   
3. Outdoor Comfort: Extend umbrellas/shade coverage to the perimeter deck seating. This maximizes usability of outdoor space during peak sun.
   ‍
4. Introduce subtle digital or design-forward signage to highlight community events, live music, or local partnerships, reinforcing Boulder connections and inviting repeat visits.

I personally wanted to return with my family, but the combination of “guests only” signage and lack of community activation gave me pause. Limelight’s design is gorgeous, but without more intentional hospitality gestures, it risks feeling exclusive rather than welcoming.