The 11th annual Doors Open Denver, presented by Denver Architectural Foundation, happens again this weekend, April 25-26. Denver buildings will open their doors to the public for exclusive viewing opportunities, highlighting Denver classics, then and now. But with a total of 57 locations over just two days, we’ve decided to make Doors Open Denver less daunting by narrowing the list to our top 13. Check them out this weekend!
CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM
Address: 1250 Bannock Street
Hours: Sat 10am – 5pm Sun 10am – 5pm
About: The newest addition to Denver’s Cultural Arts District, this site was built to hold the work of Clyfford Still. The Museum (pictured above) will offer free admission Doors Open Denver participants during the event weekend. In addition to the 1:00 collections tour on Saturday, the museum will be offering four 20-minute architectural tours on Saturday and Sunday at 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am and 12:00pm. These tours are limited to 20 people each, first come first served. Tours are free of charge.
TAXI
Address: 3459 Ringsby Court
Hours: Sat 10am – 2pm Sun 10am – 2pm
About: Award-winning TAXI resides at the intersection of great architecture, lively enterprise and art and includes: Taxi 1, Taxi 2, Drive 1, Drive 2, Freight & Freight Residences.
THE SOURCE
Address: 3350 Brighton Blvd
Hours: Sat 8am – 11pm Sun 8am – 11pm
About: The Source is a 25,000-square-foot artisan food market in Denver’s River North (RiNo) district that is home to a collection of food artisans and retailers offering visitors everything from freshly baked bread to craft cocktails, to street tacos and contemporary flower arrangements.
KIRKLAND MUSEUM OF FINE & DECORATIVE ART
Address: 1311 Pearl Street
Hours: Sat 10am – 5pm Sun 10am – 5pm
About: Maurice Biscoe and Henry Hewitt were commissioned to create the original Arts & Crafts studio by Henry Read, one of the 13 founders of the Artists’ Club, precursor to the Denver Art Museum. It is now the oldest commercial art building in Denver.
FORNEY MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION
Address: 4303 Brighton Boulevard
Hours: Sat 10am – 4pm Sun 12pm – 4pm
About: Founded approximately 60 years ago, this museum began as the private collection of J.D. Forney, founder of welding and electrics manufacturer Forney Industries in Fort Collins.
DENVER ART MUSEUM: NORTH BUILDING + HAMILTON BUILDING
Address: 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway
Hours: Sat 10am – 4pm Sun 10am – 4pm
About: Founded in 1893, the Denver Art Museum has one of the largest collections of world art between Chicago and the West Coast. The 24-sided North Building is covered in over one million glass tiles.
REPUBLIC PLAZA
Address: 370 17th Street
Hours: Sat 10am – 4pm Sun 10am – 4pm
About: Republic Plaza is the tallest building not only in the City of Denver, but also the entire Rocky Mountain region of the United States.
DAVITA WORLD HEADQUARTERS
Address: 2000 16th Street
Hours: Sat 11am – 3pm Sun 11am – 3pm
About: The building is designed to complement and reinforce the dynamic qualities of the Millennium Bridge. The 1st and 14th floors will be open to the public. Tours to the 14th floor will take place every 15 minutes from 11:15am-2:45pm.
DENVER UNION STATION—Doors OPEN Denver 2015 Headquarters
Address: 1701 Wynkoop Street
Hours: Sat 8:00am – 4:00pm Sun 8:00am – 4:00pm
About: Denver Union Station opened first opened in May 1881 as a central station combining four different rail operations, and was completed in 1914. The Station is on the National Register of Historic Places, and serves as a centerpiece in the heart of downtown Denver as a multi-modal transportation hub, catalyst for transit-oriented private development, entertainment and social destination, and a historic architectural gem.The Beaux Arts building has been fully restored, honoring all historical elements of its original construction.
DAVIS PARTNERSHIP ARCHITECTS
Address: 2301 Blake Street
Hours: Sat 10am – 4pm Sun 10am – 4pm
About: The renovated historic structure was originally created for the McPhee and McGinnity Lumber Company, a booming Denver business that was once the largest manufacturer west of Chicago.
SUGARCUBE BUILDING
Address: 1555 Blake Street
Hours: Sat 10am – 4pm Sun 10am – 4pm
About: Constructed in 2008, the SugarCube building is the modern counterpart to its namesake, the Historic Sugar Building, which is also owned by Urban Villages. The Sugar sisters stand side by side, each a cutting edge architectural statement of their times.
BINDERY ON BLAKE
Address: 2901 Blake Street
Hours: Sat 10am – 4pm Sun 10am – 4pm
About: Home to 2014 Design After Dark and Denver Flea, don’t miss this 100 year old industrial building being repurposed for the next 100 years
TOPO DESIGNS FLAGSHIP STORE
Address: 2500 Larimer Street
Hours: Sat 11am – 4pm Sun 11am – 4pm
About: This 25th and Larimer development is constructed of recycled shipping containers.
