Urban De[nver]sign

This is a repost which was originally released on September, 21  2010.

The Mile High City has an interesting past and what seems to be an even more interesting future.  From its inception as a mining camp to its current standing as one of the largest cities east of the Mississippi River, Denver is probably not widely known for it’s architecture or design communities.  However, someone not familiar with the city would be surprised by the extremely urban amenities that have manifested themselves recently as part of a burst of redevelopment occurring in the heart of the “Queen City of the Plains”.

Walking around the downtown area, one would notice fantastic cultural landmarks like the MCA Denver by David Adjaye, the Denver Art Museum expansion by Daniel Libeskind, and the Colorado Convention Center by the city’s own public architecture guru Curtis Fentress.  Although these places are all very important, the most striking piece of Denver’s design puzzle is the infrastructure which helps to connect these landmarks to other key places in the city, a network that seems the government and residents of Denver have wholeheartedly embraced.

What Denver lacks in subterranean options, it more than makes up for with variety.  Its rapid transit plan is remarkably European in character, featuring diverse components ranging from bicycle sharing to the RTD light rail, which is planned to eventually connect the downtown to Denver International Airport (DIA), which is remote, albeit important to both business and recreational travelers.

But the really inspiring urban project is the redevelopment of the Denver Union Station, located in the heart of the historic Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood.  When completed, the historic building will serve as a hub for different rail types including national, commuter, and light rail.  Busses will also be available to shuttle passengers between regional destinations and up the nearby 16^th Street Mall.  Expanding on the success of the 16^th Street Mall, many new public plazas will be formed as a result of the same project, creating unique urban spaces for all to experience.

Denver may have a reputation as the capital for outdoor enthusiasts prepared to make a mad dash for the slopes or trails at a moments notice.  However, there is an uncanny sensibility in the city about the importance of maintaining the quality of urban life while reducing its effects on the environment and natural beauty that is so plentiful in the region.  Automobiles will probably always be necessary for life in such a remote place, but options are fantastic, too.  Especially when executed as well as they are in Denver.