The half-billion dollar Union Station project alone would be reason to celebrate during these economically challenged times. But at the other end of Downtown Denver, another building boom is underway. The $378 million Denver Justice Center complex in the Civic Center district is closing in on a spring/summer opening, construction is underway on the $111 million Colorado History Museum, site prep has started for the $33 million Clyfford Still Museum, and construction will begin this summer on the state’s new $295 million Ralph Carr Judicial Complex.
The public plazas are the focus of much of the final work at the Denver Justice Center project. On a beautiful summer-like Sunday afternoon, here was the scene this past weekend:
I’m actually a bit fond of the Albert Speer complex. It is truely a page out of Speer’s grand plan for Berlin prior to the onslaught of Allied bombers. With the right landscapping it may even look semi-inviting for people. Lets hope it lasts longer and has a more noble cause than the short-lived Reich Chancellery.
If there will be an open house or a time that the public can tour the complex, please blog it. Thanks for the awesome blog!
I like the way it has turned out, and I think the plaza will be a nice space, but I wish the buildings were about 20 feet closer together. Given their height, a slightly narrower plaza would have tied them together more effectively.
It is truly amazing what is going on in this part of town. On Sunday I was at the art museum, and from a window on the sixth floor of the north building you could really get a sense of intense investment in cultural and government buildings. Now if they could just get financing to finish off the Museum Residences with the tower at 12th and Broadway….
So…there’s a plaza between the buildings that cars drive through? Or is that street between the two buildings limited use?
To bad the plaza didn’t tie into downtown better, but I do like the design… It would of been nice to have a continuous walkway to 14th or something? Instead, you have to go around the Diamond and a few other un-attractive buildings to see the open space.
I still think it should lovingly be called the slab o’shame.
I’m wowed by this building. It works great with the Denver Mint and looks strong without appearing foreboding.
Wow….I never realized it before but this does look like it was designed by Albert Speer! I hope the new Judicial building doesn’t look like that. I can’t believe they are tearing down great modern buildings like the Judicial building and History Museum to put up pseudo neo-classical crap.