Open House

Denver opens its doors this month to celebrate city's built environment

(04/01/2006)
By Diana Murphy

Doors Open Denver 2006, set for April 22-23, is a collaboration among several government, civic and professional entities, including the City and County of Denver, Colorado Historical Society, Denver Architectural Foundation, Downtown Denver Partnership, Historic Denver, AIA Colorado and AIA Denver.

Denver residents will get an architectural backstage pass to many of the city's most recognizable, important and beloved buildings during Doors Open Denver 2006.

Set for April 22-23, the free, citywide event will feature nearly 80 sites offering a range of activities, including self-guided tours, organized expert tours by noted architects and historians and drop-in, kid-friendly programming.

"It's an important event for a couple of reasons," said Melinda Laz, program manager for the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs. "It lets people grow their appreciation of design and urban planning, learn why buildings are built they way they are, and it highlights the contrast of the new with the old."

Doors Open Denver, which takes place during the American Institute of Architects annual National Architecture Week celebration, also helps build civic pride.

"You see these buildings every day, but if you don't have the chance to go inside, you don't realize what a jewel box Denver has," Laz said.

Seeing the Sites

Participating sites for 2006 include corporate offices, places of worship, mansions, museums, architecture and design studios, hotels, commercial and retail buildings, even transportation hubs.

"This year we have several buildings that weren't on the tour last year," said Laz. "The D&F Tower will be open. It's a Denver landmark people always want to go into. Also, there will be several extensive tours of the new Hyatt Regency Denver and six buildings on the Auraria Campus."

Also included will be the Byron G. Rogers Federal Courthouse, a Formalist landmark that recently reopened after undergoing a $53 million, 32-month renovation.

"That's a great one to go into, not just for its historic use but also because of the way they renovated it to become a 'green' building," Laz said.

Successful Debut

The Doors Open concept was launched in Europe and Canada more than a decade ago. New York hosted for the first stateside Doors Open event in 2004.

Doors Open Denver debuted in 2005, drawing 31,000 visits to 82 sites.

Laz believes the event is a success because it allows participants to sneak a peek at architecturally interesting, varied and locally representative places that aren't typically open - or, at least, not wide open - to the public.

"People in their day-to-day lives have sort of a limited appreciation of the extent of the architecture and design we have here in Denver," she said. "So this a great opportunity to go inside buildings you might see every day on your way to work, but never visit."

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are still needed to help with the thousands of people expected to participate in Doors Open Denver 2006, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 22-23.

For volunteer information and registration, as well as the lists of participating sites and sponsors, go to www.denvergov.org/doorsopendenver or call 303-282-5073.

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