Ever since Federico Pena won the mayoral race in 1983 with a slogan that he and
Mayor Wellington Webb made manifest, “Imagine a Great City,” Denver has been on
the fast track to improving its built environment. Rather than growing up, it
has filled in. In the intervening years, 12 prominent civic and public assembly
venues have come or are coming to fruition. The Colorado Convention Center expansion is one of these. It joins the terminal
at Denver International Airport (another Fentress Bradburn-designed project),
Daniel Libeskind’s expansion of the art museum and the Michael Graves-designed
library to form a quartet of icons. As the symbols of Denver, these buildings
use a vernacular of dynamic geometry to illustrate the breadth and depth of this
community’s spirit.
Set in the heart of Denver’s burgeoning cultural district, the expanded center
brings further definition to the city’s streetscape. Think of New York City,
with its highly identifiable avenues: Fifth Avenue and shopping, Sixth Avenue
and publishing, Seventh Avenue and fashion, Wall Street and finance. The same
urban design philosophy is materializing for Denver.
With the completion of the
center, the city will have four such streets: 14th Street and culture, 17th
Street and business, 16th Street and retail, and Blake Street and entertainment.
With Larimer Street as the northern bookend and Civic Center Park as the
southern bookend, the expanded Colorado Convention Center has become the
essential link along 14th Street that ties these otherwise estranged cultural
bookends together with the Denver Performing Arts Complex and the new Hyatt
hotel.
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Four angular roof blades detail the center’s varied facade along 14th Street to
acknowledge the significance and grandeur of this civic facility while
maintaining an inviting front door. These blades also gesture out, toward
downtown, in a sign of inclusivity and pride.
Inside the 14th Street lobby, the
human experience continues with a sense of celebration and homecoming. Views to
the outdoors are unobstructed. The clear glass of the finely detailed
curtainwall encourages patrons to connect with the amiable natural environment
and immediate context. Vibrant details in the lighting elements, art and
interior finishes add warmth and sophistication.
Above the covered pedestrian arcades that lead away from 14th Street, along
Welton and Champa streets, are undulating, perforated stainless steel panels
masking 54 truck berths and 1,000 public parking spaces.
Like a mountain stream,
these sinuous elements encourage fluid movement, animate secondary entrances and
provide a lyrical backdrop for the Borofsky “Dancers.”
Opposite 14th Street, a singular blade rises from the confluence of Colfax
Avenue, Speer Boulevard and Welton Street to create an identity for the western
perimeter of downtown. The vehicular nature of Speer Boulevard and its coddled
recreation path lend this facade to being a solitary statement. The clean, crisp
line of the peaked cantilever draws the eye upward. Its message to those in the
more than 9 million cars that pass by annually is one of aspiration and
achievement.
Set in contrast to the highly vertical nature of Denver’s existing
downtown skyline, the center represents new civic vitality. Like the Sydney
Opera House or the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the Colorado Convention
Center becomes a landmark in part by contrasting with the established
architectural vernacular.
Set in the foreground of the Speer Boulevard facade is a sunken indoor
amphitheater. Its rounded form is a major element in the circular vocabulary
employed by light fixtures and entry elements that distinguish meeting rooms and
the Stout Street connection with 14th Street. Circles are ancient symbols of
unity and wholeness, and as such are excellent hallmarks for civic structures.
Form must follow function, for as Frank Lloyd Wright believed, “Buildings are
made for life … to be lived in happily.”
The commercial function of public-
assembly venues intrigues me, particularly for convention centers. They are not
only destinations, they are also workplaces. Recall the last time you entered a
convention center. What was your experience? How would you describe it? Would
you want to return? These are the kind of questions that I think about, because within their answers
lie the foundation for good design.
Like airports, convention centers are
constantly evolving in response to the changing needs of their industries and
users. To design for today’s needs is not sufficient. Needs change, and the goal
is to create a human experience that encourages dialogue, promotes well-being
and maximizes flexibility and efficiency.
The expansion’s new ballroom and meeting rooms have greater capacity than the
original. The divisible indoor amphitheater better accommodates a growing type
of meeting arrangement and offers a venue not previously provided. Breakout
spaces for people to connect to the Internet, conduct impromptu meetings and eat
are abundant and flexible.
And then there is the civic function of convention centers. Such buildings stand
out from other public assembly venues because of their unique role in burgeoning
cities, like Denver.
They are a primary draw for out-of-town guests, as opposed
to entertainment or cultural facilities, which often serve as secondary draws.
Therefore, convention centers are a key vehicle for a city to promote itself.
Conventioneers might not venture here on their own, but they may find Denver
attractive and return.
Adventuresome conventioneers and citizens traveling to the theater, work or any
one of downtown Denver’s other destinations have a newly relocated light-rail
station that is insulated by the center at its northeastern corner. Arriving and
departing passengers are sheltered from the elements, given a platform from
which to orient themselves and visually connected with the active interiors of
the highly accessible center.
Visionary Mayors Pena, Webb and now Hickenlooper respectively challenged
Denverites to “Imagine a Great City,” “Become a Great City” and “Be a Great
City.” These inspired callings continue to be answered under the skillful
leadership of City Council members, the planning department and private-practice
professionals.
While Denver’s future developments will benefit from a tremendous
foundation, they will also be challenged to maintain the established balance of
symbol and function, like the yin and yang of the Colorado Convention Center.
