Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Denver
Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates

An imaginative atrium serves as a centerpiece for this museum

© Thorney Lieberman

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

Perhaps the most vibrant facet of the renovated Denver Museum of Nature and Science is its atrium, designed to reinforce the museum's sense of adventure and curiosity in the 21st century. The atrium is shaped by four architectural "rings," which link the three levels of the 20,000-square-foot atrium and embrace its various activities. The rings' curved form manifests the spirit of movement in nature: circles, orbits, and the cycles on which the natural world is built.

The architects used high-performance glass to nearly eliminate the effect of solar heat gain in the space and to create a remarkable "transparent shade" throughout the atrium. The glass is slanted to reduce glare and reflection, and is tinted green to fit within the context of the surrounding landscape when viewed from outside. The large area is flanked by two new stairs clad in insulated, translucent panels and at night the entire composition provides a soft glow of light supporting the museum's goal of dark sky preservation.

Included in the renovation is 13,000 square feet of exhibition space in the areas surrounding the atrium and nearly 7,000 square feet of exhibit support space has been created on the lower level below the atrium, allowing more of the first floor areas to be devoted to public use.

Location:
Denver

Gross square footage:
40,000 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$17 million (plus additional $22 million for exhibits and technology)

Owner:
City & County of Denver/Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Architect:
Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates
811 W. 7th Street, 4th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213-624-2775 T
213-895-0923 F
www.hhpa.com