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The Denver Art Museum Reopens After $175 Million Campus Revamp

The interiors of the institution’s Gio Ponti–designed building have been reconfigured by Fentress Architects and Machado Silvetti

By Geoffrey Montes
Modern architectural building with large glass windows, sleek bridge, and unique geometric shapes under a clear blue sky.
Martin Building Exterior. Photo: Eric Stephenson, Courtesy of Denver Art Museum

The only edifice in North America conceived by Italian architect Gio Ponti, the Denver Art Museum’s Lanny and Sharon Martin Building cuts an imposing figure, thanks to its dual-tower façade, clad in more than a million reflective glass tiles. On October 24, to mark the modernist structure’s 50th anniversary, the museum is unveiling a long-awaited $175 million, campus-wide renovation by Fentress Architects and Machado Silvetti that has completely reworked the landmark’s interiors and expanded its public space by more than 33,000 square feet. Filling the eight levels of updated art galleries will be multiple special exhibitions, such as “ReVisión: Art in the Americas,” which explores the museum’s stellar collection of Latin American art.

See below for the full tour.

Modern building with unique architectural design and a person standing on a terrace under a clear blue sky.
Martin Building rooftop terrace. Photo: James Florio Photography, courtesy of the Denver Art Museum
Modern architectural structure with a curved design and staircase against a twilight sky.
Martin Building rooftop terrace at night. Photo: James Florio Photography, courtesy of the Denver Art Museum
Modern art museum exterior with circular glass structure, red sculptures on green lawn, and people walking nearby.
Denver Art Museum campus with artist Edgar Heap of Birds’ Wheel sculpture. Photo: James Florio Photography, courtesy of the Denver Art Museum
Modern interior with a curved staircase and patterned ceiling lights, featuring a blurred figure walking down the stairs.
New Grand Staircase view from Duncan Hall. Photo: James Florio Photography, courtesy of the Denver Art Museum
Modern art exhibit featuring colorful, abstract furniture designs, including unique chairs and playful lighting on display.
Precourt Architecture & Design Galleries, By Design: Stories and Ideas Behind Objects exhibition. Photo: James Florio Photography, courtesy of the Denver Art Museum.
Museum gallery displaying Indigenous Northwest Coast art with large totem poles and various artifacts in glass cases.
Indigenous Arts of North America Galleries, Northwest Coast and Alaska Native Art. Photo: James Florio Photography, courtesy of the Denver Art Museum
Exhibit hall with vibrant walls, various artworks, and a central turquoise statue on a pedestal.
Jesse & Nellie Shwayder Asian Art Galleries. Photo: James Florio Photography, courtesy of the Denver Art Museum
Man observing paintings in an art gallery with dark teal walls, featuring portraits and a decorative table on display.
Davis W. Moore European Art Before 1800 Galleries. Photo: James Florio Photography, courtesy of the Denver Art Museum
Exhibition of vintage fashion, showcasing mannequins dressed in various classic styles on a wooden floor in a modern gallery setting.
Avenir Textile Art and Fashion Galleries, Suited: Empowered Feminine Fashion exhibition. Photo: James Florio Photography, courtesy of the Denver Art Museum

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2021 Fall Issue under the headline “Mile High Makeover.” Subscribe to the magazine.