Doors Open Denver to feature city’s built environment

Denver will celebrate its unique architectural landscape April 13 and 14 with Doors Open Denver.

Residents and visitors will have the opportunity to experience the city’s built environment in a special way: from inside many buildings that are not ordinarily open to the public. Attendees will have access to approximately 60 of Denver’s prominent architectural gems and lesser-known treasures.

The theme for this year’s free event is “The City Beautiful: Then and Now” and the program will feature sites that represent outstanding examples of the “City Beautiful” movement.

Doors Open Denver will feature more than 60 locations, 100 expert guided tours, Denver Box City for Kids, Focus on Architecture Photography Competition, and more.

New this year are guided bike tours, tours of Denver Parks and Parkways and many exciting sites such as the Denver Dry Building, Hogle-Allison Motors/Colorado Ballet Building, Washington Park Dos Chappell Bathhouse and the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp at Morrison.

Additionally, all four directional Denver public high schools – East, West, North and South – (which exemplify the City Beautiful movement) will be open to the public.

The City Beautiful Movement was influenced by European Beaux Arts architecture and the 1893 Chicago World Exhibition, characterized by parks, fountains, public statuary, grand boulevards, handsome civic centers, prominent civic buildings and comprehensive planning. The City Beautiful Movement was both aesthetic and based on the belief that a quality public and civic realm was key to the public health of the citizenry and the financial stability and well being of the community.

This year’s event headquarters will be at the McNichols Building at Colfax and Bannock, open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, offering event information and free expert tour tickets.

Participants may experience Doors Open Denver in the following ways:

Self-Guided Tours
You may begin your self-guided tour at any participating Doors Open Denver location. Stop by Event Headquarters (McNichols Building, located at the NW corner of Civic Center Park at Bannock & Colfax) to speak with event staff for recommendations. The free program guide, distributed the week before the event, contains descriptions of participating sites and a map to help you plan your visits. You may visit sites on your own, in any order, throughout the event weekend.

Expert Tours
Expert Tours are walking tours led by volunteer tour guides. No admission fee is required, however participants must pre-register at Event Headquarters (McNichols Building) on the tour day to reserve a place. Tours have limited capacity but many tours are offered more than once. Registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis. NOTE: Only two tickets per person, and two tours per day/per person are permitted.

Urban Adventures
Having a hard time trying to decide which buildings to visit? Take an Urban Adventure, with suggested self-guided tours inside the guide.

Design Your Own Tour
Tailor your own tour to your interests by going to: www.DoorsOpenDenver.org. There you will be able to sort the sites by location, architect or year!

Doors Open Denver Web Site
The Doors Open Denver web site also includes specific days and hours, accessibility and photography restrictions, public transportation information and web site address. Please visit the Doors Open website and the individual location’s web site for much more information.

ONE PAST FIVE
Wednesday, April 10, 5:01 p.m.
McNichols Building – 144 West Colfax (Corner of W. Colfax and Bannock)
Historic Denver will host this Doors Open Denver kick-off. For more information, please go to:
http://www.historicdenver.org/programs/one-past-5-professionals-happy-hour/