On September 5, Bluff Lake Nature Center (BLNC), Denver’s only nonprofit nature center and the city’s largest open space, celebrated the topping out of its highly anticipated campus improvements with a ceremony attended by community leaders, project partners, and supporters.
The event marked the placement of the final structural element on the new 2.5-acre development near Martin Luther King Boulevard and Lima Street in Denver’s Central Park neighborhood. This milestone represents a significant step forward in BLNC’s mission to expand access to nature and create welcoming spaces for education, community, and stewardship.
The topping out milestone brings BLNC closer to a campus that reflects its deep commitment to sustainability and inclusivity. Designed by Shape Architecture and built by Howell Construction with project management by Cumming Group, the improvements feature enhanced public areas, a welcoming lobby, an all-electric administrative building, and a new ADA-accessible trail.
“Reaching this milestone at Bluff Lake Nature Center is a proud moment for our team,” said Andy Stewart, vice president at Howell. “This project represents more than just a building, it’s about creating a space that brings people together, and supports environmental education. We are honored to partner with Bluff Lake Nature Center and the entire project team to bring this vision to life.”
The facility is designed with net-zero energy performance goals, incorporating solar power and other green technologies to serve as a model of environmental responsibility.
According to Shape Architecture’s project page for BLNC: “The design is conceived as a gateway to the larger landscape, drawing guests through the structure and into the site. It is designed to blend into the landscape and focus on the incredible mountain views as well as the ecologically rich lower site. Large overhangs create outdoor classrooms, gathering areas, and staff indoor/outdoor collaboration spaces, while also supporting photovoltaic panels to meet the net-zero goals.”
