Instead of star architects, the six firms chosen as finalists to oversee a $90 million overhaul of Boettcher Concert Hall are dependable firms headquartered in Canada and the United States with experience working on similar facilities.
“We were more focused on firms that have successfully renovated or built symphony halls than firms that have famous names — although in this group of six, there are certainly some famous names,” said Jack Finlaw, director of Denver’s Division of Theatres & Arenas.
A 22-member selection committee, including city officials, community leaders and 10 Colorado Symphony trustees, picked the firms from among 14 that expressed interest in the project.
Representatives of the firms will give public presentations and meet with the committee on June 26 and 27.
Finlaw expects an architect to be announced during the week of June 30, and the Denver City Council must approve the contract with that firm.
The six finalists follow, along with some of the projects they are noted for designing.
Work on Boettcher got the green light in November, when voters endorsed $60 million for the project as part of bond issues 1G and 1H. The symphony, Boettcher’s main tenant, has pledged to raise an additional $30 million in private funding.
Construction could begin as early Spring 2010.
Kyle MacMillan: 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com
