Denver highlights photographed in June 2009:
Skyline:
Civic Center:
The Colorado State Capitol sits on a small hill above and adjacent to downtown, and sits across a classicly symmetrical park from the Denver City and County Building, forming a small but effective axial center. The front steps of the capitol feature a riser that designates its elevation as one mile above sea level.
Denver Public Library:
The central library building was designed by Michael Graves and sits next to the Civic Center.
Denver Art Museum:
Also next to the Civic Center, this museum is comprised of a complex of buildings on either side of a street. The 1971 Gio Ponti-designed original building is a complex study in fenestration, while the 2006 Daniel Libeskind-designed addition is a bold angular composition which includes a nearly windowless museum building as well as a parking garage and residential building across a linear plaza.
Downtown:
A few assorted shots.
Colorado Convention Center:
This massive building in downtown features a giant blue bear sculpture that appears to be peering into the lobby, an integrated parking structure, and a tunnel for the light rail system.
16th Street Mall:
This pedestrian and transit mall is 16 blocks long and stretches nearly the entire length of downtown. It is the main shopping street and is lively and landscaped with plentiful street furniture.
Skyline Park:
This downtown series of plazas is several blocks long and crosses the 16th Street Mall. Originally designed by the office of Lawrence Halprin, the park has been renovated recently but several of his signature complex concrete compositions remain.
LoDo:
Lower Downtown is the large area closest to the South Platte River which has been the focus of most recent downtown projects. The area is dominated by renovated historic masonry buildings closest to the main downtown, including the still-active Union Station, and that style has been the inspiration for newer developments such as Coors Field, the professional baseball stadium. As the district gets closer to the river, its many residential buildings get progressively modern in style. Many are situated along the railroad tracks and a modern pedestrian bridge connects them.
South Platte River parks:
An extensive series of connected parks lines the river along the edge of LoDo, including Commons Park and Confluence Park.
Downtown Aquarium:
This facility is on the banks of the river and features an extensive aquarium exhibit complex as well as a restaurant.
Pepsi Center:
This arena is also located near the river, on the egde of downtown.
Invesco Field at Mile High:
The Denver Broncos stadium is located just across the freeway from downtown and the river.
Denver International Airport:
Although it is located miles away from downtown, I have to include this great facility!
