DENVER — Marking a major milestone for the North Building renovation project at the Denver Art Museum (DAM), the museum will soon be the temporary home to a 260-foot-tall Manitowoc 2250 crane that will be able to lift materials weighing as much as approximately 33,000 lbs. The erection of the crane will help set structural steel for the new Welcome Center. Brief road closures are required to position the crane, starting Sept. 6 at 12 a.m. and continuing through Sept. 7 at 12 p.m.
Traffic impacts include road closures on west 14th Avenue from north Cherokee Street to north Broadway on Sept. 6 and 7, as well as north Bannock Street from west Colfax to west 14th Avenues. The crosswalk located between the Denver Central Library and the DAM that heads toward Civic Center Park also will be closed. Visitors and pedestrians are encouraged to access the museum using west 13th and west 12th Avenues. Those wanting access to the Byers Evans House Museum or Denver Public Library main branch may gain access from west 13th Avenue or 13th and Broadway, respectively.
Machado Silvetti and Denver-based Fentress Architects are the design team behind the $150 million project, and the local contractor is Saunders Construction Company. Project One of Englewood, Colo., serves as the owners’ representative.
The $150 million North Building renovation project kicked off in November of 2017, with the goal of expanding the museum’s ability to serve the community, safely welcoming guests and preserving priceless artworks from around the world for generations to come. The renovation will include a new Welcome Center, expanded public gallery spaces, flexible event spaces and significant outdoor improvements. In addition, Denver voters approved $35.5 million in Elevate Denver bond funds to support the revitalization of the nearly 50-year-old building.
The museum’s Hamilton Building remains open seven days a week while the North Building undergoes this major overhaul.
Road closure image courtesy of Denver Art Museum
