TWO CUSTOM CEILINGS HELPED REJUVENATE THE TIME-HONORED DESIGN OF AN ITALIAN ARCHITECT WHILE ENHANCING THE DENVER ART MUSEUM EXPERIENCE WITH MODERN UPGRADES
Renovating and expanding a world-renowned art museum designed by a well-known Italian architect comes with its share of design challenges. But for the Denver Art Museum, an iconic institution of visual art, it was a necessary revitalization effort to better serve the steady increase in foot traffic that has now grown to more than 800,000 annual visitors.
One of the more iconic structures that grew from the museum’s late 20th century expansion is the Martin Building. Formerly known as the North Building, it is a dramatic two-towered, eight-story, castle-like gallery designed by Italian modernist Gio Ponti and completed in 1971. The design was a sharp departure from the temple style often associated with gallery architecture.