After a year and a half of construction, the Denver Art Museum will begin to reopen the buildings on the north side of 13th Avenue on June 6.
That's the renovated Lanny and Sharon Martin Building -- formerly known as the North Building -- and the new Anna and John J. Sie Welcome Center. The June (re)openings will be the first of several, according to a press release. The entire project will be finished and open by the end of 2021, just in time for the Martin Building's 50th anniversary.
The $150 million is on budget and on time, the press release says.
"Hard construction" is over, taking the project out of the hands of Machado Silvetti and Fentress Architects and constructed by Saunders Construction and putting it in the hands of museum staff.
During a press tour Wednesday morning, museum director Christoph Heinrich called what's there "lovely shell."
"Now is the moment to officially remove the hardhats and really let the fun begin," he said.
The team leading the tour began it wearing hard hats and ceremoniously took them off.
Per the press release, the Martin Building include:
- a refurbished Bonfils-Stanton Gallery;
- the new Amanda J. Precourt Design Galleries and interactive space;
- a newly renovated and reinstalled Northwest Coast and Alaska Native gallery;
- a gallery for student and community art exhibitions;
- and a purpose-built art conservation laboratory that gives visitors a look at preservation work.
The DAM is pursuing LEED certification for the project's energy-efficient systems, low-flow water fixtures and a comprehensive construction waste management program.
The project also included two new elevators, new exterior wall insulation, and updates to the mechanical, electic and plumbing systems.
Members will get to preview the new spaces before they open to the wider public. Details will be announced in the new year.
