Denver Architecture Foundation will host Doors Open Denver this September 26 to 29 with a series of programming around the theme of “Denver Through Time,” highlighting historic and future architectural projects and celebrating the city’s built environment with walking tours, open sites, and special events.
The annual Doors Open Denver, first launched in 2005 and reimagined this year under the leadership of newly appointed CEO Meg Touborg, will run for four days and include:
Thursday, September 26
• A kickoff keynote lecture by Vishaan Chakrabarti, author of the upcoming The Architecture of Urbanity: Designing for Nature, Culture, and Joy, at the Denver Art Museum, followed by a book signing and reception, from 2 to 4 p.m.
• A free celebration honoring winners of the Y/OUR Denver photography competition at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center, from 5 to 7 p.m.
• A ticketed Doors Open Denver kick-off reception at the loft of Carla Hartman, granddaughter of Ray and Charles Eames; Hartman will discuss her current creative projects and her family’s collections on view in the loft, and her husband, noted painter Carl Hartman, will guide guests through his works
Friday, September 27
• Insider tours of select architectural gems, including Colfax Avenue, the Mayan Theater, Rockmount Ranch Wear, and the recently opened Champagne Tiger
• On the Boards, when 15 local architecture firms open the doors to their offices to the public to showcase recent and future projects, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Open Sites, an open house at 12 notable locations, including Blair Caldwell Library, Equitable Building, and the Governor’s Residence at Boettcher Mansion, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Creativity and Construction at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, with a dance performance by Cleo Parker Youth Ensemble, a cocktail reception, and tours of the new, iconic cultural facility, a three-level, 25,000 square foot expansion, designed by Fentress Architects, from 5 to 7 p.m.
• Alan Gass’s Photographic Idiosyncratic Tour of Denver’s Primary Pedestrian District
Saturday, September 28
• More Insider Tours and Open Sites of notable buildings, mainly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Coffee and Contemporary Design, a conversation with architect and author John Ike, at Adorn, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• A free screening of Frey: The Architectural Envoy at Walker Fine Art, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., which documents the life and influence of the Swiss-born mid-20th century architect Albert Frey
Sunday, September 29
• The first-ever Doors Open Denver wrap party at the Posner Center for International Development, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
“Doors Open Denver will offer a full mix of programming to celebrate what makes Denver so special,” said Meg Touborg, who became CEO and president of Denver Architecture Foundation in January. “We’ve scheduled events on a single long weekend to bring the city alive with dynamic, in-person engagements that will inspire us to explore and envision the past, present, and future of Denver. It’s such a privilege to be revitalizing Denver’s greatest annual celebration of our city’s built environment.”
Since 2005, Doors Open Denver has offered unique access to some of Denver’s most iconic and historically significant buildings through tours, expert talks, and special activities. Mainly virtual or hybrid since the pandemic in 2020, this year’s Doors Open Denver format continues the in-person tradition of discovery and exploration.
Open Sites, On the Boards, some Insider Tours, and some special events during Doors Open Denver 2024 are free. All ticketed components are on sale now to Denver Architecture Foundation members.
The Doors Open Denver media kit is available at bit.ly/DoorsOpenDenver2024
