A rounded, glazed welcome centre is among the enhancements made by US firms Machado Silvetti Architects and Fentress Architects to the Gio Ponti-designed Denver Art Museum, which opened in 1971.
The museum sits within the heart of Denver, in a district known as the Golden Triangle. After being partly closed for years, the museum will fully reopen to the public on 24 October 2021.
A rounded welcome centre is among the updates to the Denver Art Museum
The modifications include a new welcome centre, outdoor areas and reconfigured galleries, along with additional space for education, events and dining. The project was designed by Boston-based Machado Silvetti Architects and local firm Fentress Architects.
The art museum unveiled the renovation and expansion plan in 2016, citing the need to expand its offerings while unifying its buildings and bringing them up to date. The project was mostly completed last year, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed the unveiling until this fall. The original entrance features an oval-shaped steel tube
The original museum ? a seven-storey, asymmetrical tower clad in shimmering tiles ? was designed by the Italian architect Gio Ponti and opened in 1971. It has 24 different sides and has been referred to as "castle-like" in appearance.
"More than one million reflective tiles cover the building's exterior, and its two-towered facade has long been an iconic city feature," the team said.
The Martin Building is clad in tiles
The bu...