A Modern History of Denver Architecture
Colorado is known for its breathtaking scenery. Home to the stunning Rocky Mountains, deep-trenched canyons, and raging whitewater of the Colorado River, many people assume that the entire state is rural.
It’s not.
Spend some time viewing the architecture in the Mile High City, and it will become clear that Colorado also holds historic charm and boasts modern, urban style.
Denver, Colorado was founded back in the 1850s when the Gold Rush was in full swing. What was once a mining town is now a bustling metropolitan city. Its neighborhoods vary in look and style. The city as a whole is filled with a variety of historic and contemporary buildings that reflect its unique character.
A stay in Denver isn’t complete without exploring the city’s architectural history. This guide highlights some of the most important examples of modern Denver architecture.
What Makes Denver Architecture So Unique?
One thing that makes Denver architecture so unique is that modern buildings exist cohesively within a city full of historic structures. From LoDo to RiNo to Capitol Hill, you’ll find an array of modern, gothic, Victorian, neoclassical, and contemporary architectural styles within the Denver city limits.
Denver is a city that is proud of its history and the historical architecture that harkens all the way back to the mid-19th century. Some buildings from the early days of Denver still stand, as architectural firms in the city embrace the concept of adaptive reuse.
Adaptive Reuse in Denver
Adaptive reuse is the process of repurposing an old, existing building for a new use. From the outside, the building may maintain its historical integrity and even mimic the original façade. On the inside, however, it might have a brand new interior design layout and serve an entirely different purpose.
The Leprino Foods building is a prime example of how firms like ZP Architects & Engineers preserve Denver’s historical buildings while converting them to a new use.
In 1950, Leprino opened as a cheese shop near the corner of West 38th Avenue and Shoshone Street. Today, Leprino Foods is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest cheese suppliers around the globe.
Committed to maintaining their headquarters from their original Denver location, the Leprino Foods Company now operates in over 160,000 square feet, far greater in size than the original corner store from which they sold cheese in the mid-century. This expansion required a full block redevelopment plan and a complete historic renovation. It also included upgrading and remodeling the interior facilities so that the company can function as needed in the modern world.
While adaptive reuse properties exist all around the city, so do brand-new structures and late 20th–early 21st century designs. Besides the “old” buildings with historical character, towering highrises dot the Denver skyline.
In the Mile High City, the oldest buildings and the newest structures coexist and complement one another.
The Oldest Buildings in Denver
Some of Denver’s oldest buildings are still standing, in part because they have historical significance and also because they have been renovated for adaptive reuse. Here are a few of Denver’s most important architectural designs, including when they were built and what purpose they serve today.
Barney L. Ford Building
Built in 1863 by former Virginia slave Barney L. Ford, this building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally a restaurant and bar with a hair salon in the basement. Today, it is home to (one of several) Hapa Sushi Grill and Sake Bars.
John Deere Plow Co. Building
The John Deere Plow Co. Building, built in 1871, was originally a location that sold horse-drawn carriages and farming equipment. While the John Deere company name still appears on its façade, today it houses condominiums and office space.
Wells Fargo Building
Built in 1874, the Wells Fargo Building was a pioneer stagecoach office. Before railroads were even built in the region, it helped establish Denver as the region’s main transportation center. Today, the building is home to the EVOO Marketplace, a supplier of olive oil and Italian balsamic vinegars.
Nine of Denver’s Most Significant Architectural Structures
A full exploration of Denver architecture requires traversing many different neighborhoods throughout the city. The following are some of the most notable architectural structures that exist around town, many of which have undergone renovations to remain important for future generations.
Denver Public Library
There are more than two dozen branches of the Denver Public Library, and many of them were built in the early 1900s thanks to funding from Andrew Carnegie.
With the need for larger and more modern facilities, the city opened its newest library building, the Central Library, in 1995. This modern structure was designed by the famous Michael Graves.
Denver Union Station
The first section of Denver Union Station was built in 1881 out of pure necessity. The transcontinental railroad needed a way to provide rail access to train passengers, and Union Station is what gave residents and travelers through the region that much-needed access.
Union Station was built over three different time periods and showcases the neoclassical/beaux-arts architectural style as well as the Italian Romanesque style.
Over the years, the station has been renovated and updated to meet modern needs, yet it remains a landmark and focal point in historic downtown Denver.
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is a massive entertainment complex that hosts Broadway shows, ballets, operas, and other theatrical performances. The DCPA houses eight theaters in all, the most distinctive one being the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
The Ellie Caulkins Opera House was built in 1908, but after extensive interior renovations and upgrades, what remains is its historic exterior. Today, with state-of-the-art audio technology, it’s as remarkable on the inside as it is on the outside.
Larimer Square
Larimer Square in downtown Denver is home to some of the region's oldest and most distinctive buildings, including the 1870 Congdon Building, the 1873 Kettle Building, and the 1873 Gallup-Stanbury Building. All three carry a National Register of Historic Places designation.
Larimer Square was Denver’s first commercial district and remains a hub for the city today. In recent years, the façades of this historic district have undergone many restorations, while the interiors of many of these historic buildings have been repurposed and modernized for the 21st century.
Tivoli Brewery
Erected in 1864, Tivoli Brewery was the first brewery in Denver, and only the second to exist in the entire country. Influenced by Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, and Rococo architecture, this Bavarian-style building has a look all its own and is a prime example of adaptive reuse in Denver.
Tivoli Brewery closed in 1969 but has since been restored, renovated, and repurposed into a multi-functional student center at Auraria Campus. Students from the University of Colorado-Denver, Community College of Denver, and Metropolitan State University spend time in its student offices, food court, and event spaces every day.
Tivoli Brewery is not the only intriguing structure on Auraria Campus — the AHEC also has two historic churches on its grounds. St. Elizabeth’s Church, completed in 1898 in the German Gothic style, serves as the campus chapel. The mission-style St. Cajetan’s church with twin bell towers, built in 1925, is now a popular event space.
History Colorado Center
Completed in 2012, the History Colorado Center is home to 15 million historical artifacts, but the building itself is also something to behold. It's a modern architectural marvel with massive staircases and a four-story atrium.
Natural lighting floods the Great Hall, while balconies offer views of Denver’s cultural buildings as well as the Front Range mountains.
Colorado Convention Center
Not only is the Colorado Convention Center an incredible example of modern architecture, but it’s also a LEED-certified symbol of sustainability. It boasts a cantilevered roof, transparent façade, and integrated light rail station for easy accessibility.
Daniels and Fisher Tower
Like so many of Denver’s classic buildings, the Daniels and Fisher Tower holds a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. The clock tower on the top makes it one of Denver’s most iconic historical buildings.
The Daniels and Fisher Tower was erected in 1910. Inspired by the iconic St. Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice, Italy, it originally served as part of the Daniels and Fisher department store. Today it is home to residences and office space.
Tours of the tower allow Denver residents and visitors to:
explore what’s behind the clock faces
view the staircases leading up to the belfry
observe the Colorado landscape from a deck on the 20th floor
Denver Art Museum
The Martin Building of the Denver Art Museum was built in 1971 and designed by famed Italian architect Gio Ponti. It features massive windows and over a million reflective glass tiles, making it one of Denver’s most distinctive structures.
In 2000, Polish-American architect Daniel Libeskind designed the expansion, known as the Hamilton Building, adding even more modern, geometric beauty.
As of 2022, the museum is undergoing a renovation that will continue to showcase both Ponti’s and Libeskind’s visions and provide new spaces for dining, exhibitions, and more.
More Notable Architectural Marvels in Denver
In addition to the bold examples of modern and historic Denver structures detailed above, here are a few more eye-catching structures that are a must-see on any Denver architecture tour.
Colorado State Capitol Building
The star of the show in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver is the Colorado State Capitol Building. Constructed in the 1890s, it is highly recognizable for its gold-domed roof as well as the fact that it purposely looks like the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Built in 1912 in the French Gothic style, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a stunning piece of architecture with multiple spires, a vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows, and Carrara marble finishes on the inside.
It has always been and continues to be a fully operational Catholic church, holding a full schedule of masses every day of the week.
The Grafton
Constructed in 1890 for use as a boarding house, The Grafton is one of Denver’s most recognizable residential spaces. This property, now a condominium complex, was built in the Victorian style with rounded arches and two-tiered porches that give it its unique look.
Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory at the Denver Botanic Gardens
Victor Hornbein and Edward White (two of Denver’s most well-known mid-century architects) designed the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory at the Denver Botanic Gardens in 1964. Within seven years of its opening, it earned Denver Landmark status. Having geometric skylights and an arched top, it remains one of the city’s most aesthetically-modern structures, despite its actual age.
Wells Fargo Center Cash Register Building
As the third tallest building in the Mile High City, the Wells Fargo Center gets its nickname “the Cash Register Building” for the way that the upper floors curve. Completed in 1983, it stands 52 stories tall and had to be built with a heated roof to prevent snow from sliding off its curved top.
Conclusion
Denver is home to both old and new architectural designs. From gothic churches to modern glass structures, the blend of different architectural styles gives the metropolis such a unique look and feel.
Tourists passing through and resident Denverites alike can walk around any corner and discover a building that’s bold and significant to the city in its own way. Besides the mountains, rivers, and overall natural beauty of the landscape, Denver architecture is just one more reason to fall in love with the state of Colorado.
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