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Architecture | Research and Creative Work

Denver Museum of Spatial Arts

Date: 8/21/2017
Student Researchers: Aly Burkhalter Faculty Advisor: Barbara Ambach

This museum, located in the LoDo area of Denver along Cherry Creek, is dedicated to the artist Richard Serra. All aspects of Serra’s works are exhibited, from his lesser known sketches and drawings, to his famous large-scale steel sculptures. The museum serves as a portal between the historic built environment of the LoDo neighborhood and a natural area of reclaimed creekside habitat. 
 
Progression through the museum is sequential. The first galleries are small, dark, and intimate spaces dedicated to Serra’s conceptual drawings. As visitors move onward, spaces become larger and are flooded with natural light. Correspondingly, the artwork on display becomes incrementally larger. 
 
Solid walls and ceilings progressively fall away, revealing an ethereal, light-filtering screen. The screen is comprised of three layers that independently slide back and forth and allow varying levels of daylight to pass through depending on their arrangement. As such, light levels can be tailored for different exhibits. The sequence of indoor galleries eventually dissolves and deposits visitors into an outdoor courtyard along Cherry Creek, where Serra’s largest work is displayed.
Photograph of exterior skin concepts
site plan collage
rendering of interior gallery space
Rendering of interior space
Photograph of architectural model
Site plan collage

College of Architecture and Planning

CU Denver

CU Denver Building

1250 14th Street

2000

Denver, CO 80202


303-315-1000

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