Mayor Mike Johnston and the Department of Community Planning and Development (CPD) have announced the nominees for the 2025 Mayor’s Design Awards. This is the 20th anniversary of the awards event, and this year will feature a broadened scope of recognition to highlight more of the great work happening in Denver. Members of the public are invited to join in the celebration of the best in Denver architecture, urban design and placemaking by voting for their favorite project to win the first-ever People’s Choice Award.
“The Mayor’s Design Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the stories told through Denver’s built environment and the places that make Denver vibrant,” said Mayor Mike Johnson. “This year’s celebration will spotlight the exceptional work being done in our city. These innovative and inspirational projects have a lasting impact on our community. I encourage Denverites be a part of the celebration and vote for their favorite project.”
“The Mayor’s Design Awards are about more than just great architecture—they’re about recognizing those who transform neighborhoods and improve the lives of the people who call them home,” said CPD Executive Director Manish Kumar. “By highlighting these projects, we’re supporting Denver’s vision for a more vibrant, inclusive and resilient city. As this program grows, we’re excited to showcase how thoughtful design can shape a brighter, more inspiring future for everyone in our community.”
A volunteer jury of CPD staff and local planning, design and preservation professionals selected 27 nominees from more than 50 submissions. The nominated projects span a variety of project types and uses from affordable housing, transit-oriented development, community gathering places, small local businesses, supportive services, and new and improved open spaces. Together, the nominees showcase how thoughtful design can help the city achieve its goals to reduce homelessness, drive down housing costs, increase public safety, improve climate resiliency and make Denver the best place in America to raise a family.
Category: Adaptive Reuse
Projects that repurpose, modernize or refresh existing structures into new uses.
- The Amp, 1580 Logan Street
- BurnDown, 476 S. Broadway
- York Street Yards, 3821-3893 Steele Street
Category: Affordability – Existing Buildings
Renovations and adaptations of existing buildings for the purpose of income-restricted housing.
- Mosaic Community Campus, 7150 Montview Boulevard
- Pancratia Hall Lofts, 3144 W. Frances Walsh Place
Category: Affordability – New Construction
New buildings constructed for the purpose of income-restricted housing.
- The Burrell, 3575 Chestnut Place
- Nest56 @Denargo Market, 2700 Wewatta Way
- Thrive, 2660 W. Holden Place
Category: Community and Culture
Projects that promote uses that foster community building and Denver’s cultural vibrancy.
- “A House of Prayer for All People” Project at Montview Church, 1980 Dahlia Street
- Buell Public Media Center, 2101 Arapahoe Street
- City Heights Residence Hall, 1191 Larimer Street
- Tears-McFarlane House and Secret Garden Bar & Café, 1290 N. Williams Street
- Urban Peak Mothership, 1630 S. Acoma Street
Category: Economic Development – Large Scale
Market-rate development for residential, commercial or a mix of uses at a large scale.
- The Ayden, 4228 Kalamath Street
- One Seven at Belleview Station, 4882 S. Newport Street
- Paradigm River North, 3400 Walnut Street
Category: Economic Development – Small Scale
Market-rate development for residential, commercial or a mix of uses at a small scale.
- 33rd & Tejon Micro Apartments, 3282 N. Tejon Street
- Bruce Randolph Avenue Residences, 3631 Bruce Randolph Avenue
Category: Innovation
Projects that push the envelope on sustainability, wellness and/or overall design quality.
- 200 Clayton Office/Mixed-use, 200 Clayton Street
- Lakehouse, 4200 W. 17th Avenue
- Populus, 240 14th Street
Category: Open Space, Street Activation and Placemaking
Projects that improve public and shared spaces.
- 9+CO, 9th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard
- Brighton Boulevard Redevelopment, Brighton Boulevard from 29th Avenue to 44th Avenue
- Parkway Cow, 4700 E. 6th Avenue Parkway
Category: Preservation
Projects that focus on preserving, renovating and adaptively reusing structures with historic, architectural and/or cultural significance.
- BOSS.architecture, 3300 E. 17th Avenue
- Centennial House at Ninth Street Historic Park, 1050 9th Street
- The Sudler, 1576 N. Sherman Street
Winners and honorable mentions, selected by the mayor, will be announced and recognized at an April 9 awards ceremony, which is free and open to the public.
2025 Mayor’s Design Awards
5 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, 2025
The Studio Loft at the Denver Performing Arts Complex
1400 Curtis Street
About the Mayor’s Design Awards
Since 2005, the Mayor’s Design Awards have honored projects throughout the city for excellence in architecture, urban design and place-making. The awards are presented to Denver homeowners, business owners, nonprofits, artists and others for their creative contributions to Denver’s built environment through excellence and innovation. Previous award winners range from restaurants, galleries and private single-family homes to plazas and other shared public spaces. What each of the projects has in common is the imaginative and innovative way they enhance public spaces and support the community.
