The Best View in Denver
Denver Museum of Nature & Science Opens New
Glass Atrium with Sky Terrace
DENVER—September 6, 2002—Visitors to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science are going have a bright, beautiful new space to enjoy striking views of the Denver skyline and the Rocky Mountains. The Museum is opening a new three-story-high glass atrium to the public on Friday, September 27, 2002, complete with a rooftop Sky Terrace. The Leprino Family Atrium and the Sky Terrace will be accessible during Museum hours and will also be available in the evenings for conferences, community meetings, wedding receptions and other special events.
The Museum’s new design, by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (HHPA) in association with HLM Design, is grounded in scientific elements. A key interior design element is the inclusion of four architectural “rings” that link the levels of the atrium and define its main activity areas. The circular forms, made of perforated aluminum, manifest the spirit of movement in nature: circles, orbits and cycles inherent in the natural world. The rings also divide the space into various functional areas, creating a variety of intriguing viewpoints. Three of the rings are positioned so they align with the points where the sun sets over the Rocky Mountains during the vernal and autumnal equinoxes and the winter and summer solstices. In the evening, the rings will be lit softly from within the atrium, providing a new and welcoming landmark in City Park.
“The new Museum space is designed to encourage visitors to view and experience space and nature in new ways,” said Stephen Johnson, Principal Architect at HHPA. “It’s a contemplative space that’s meant to engage your senses, peak your curiosity and help you revel in the beauty of the natural world.”
On a clear day, when visitors stand on the new Sky Terrace, they will enjoy a 200-mile panoramic view—from Longs Peak to Pikes Peak. By night, the terrace will be available for Museum-sponsored star parties and private events. To book a special event in the Museum’s new atrium, the public may call (303) 370-6400.
The addition also provides new ways to access some of the Museum’s best-known exhibition halls. North American Indian Cultures Hall, the North American Wildlife Hall and the South America and Botswana, Africa Halls will reopen on September 27, 2002, with dynamic new entrances, improved display cases and bright signage.
The Museum is extremely grateful to major donors for their support of the atrium.
· Mike A. Leprino and his family gave $5 million for the Leprino Family Atrium.
· The Schlessman Family Foundation was an early supporter, with a $1.25 million gift. The first-level lobby is named for them.
· A $1.5 million gift from Mr. and Mrs. F.P. “Budd” Spratlen III funded the second-level Spratlen Family Lounge, a centerpiece of the atrium.
· The Boettcher Foundation donated $1 million, which includes funding for the third-level community room in honor of Harry T. Lewis Jr., a longtime Museum Trustee.
The reopening of the west side of the Museum culminates next summer with the opening of the permanent exhibition Space Odyssey and the new Gates Planetarium. In Space Odyssey, visitors will experience a carefully crafted mix of exhibitry, live programming, and digital multimedia and interactive modules that will engage them in contemporary stories of space science exploration and discovery. The exhibition will be a catalyst for participants to learn about astronomy, space science and our unique planet, and pursue interests in science and technology through on-site programs. Gates Planetarium is being transformed into a state-of-the-art digital planetarium.
Space Odyssey is an approximately 25,000-square-foot project, including a 13,000-square-foot exhibition, 2,000-square-foot classroom space called the El Pomar Space Education Center and 9,000 square feet dedicated to the new Gates Planetarium experience.
Other donors to Space Odyssey and Gates Planetarium include: Gates Family Foundation, Adolph Coors Foundation, Pauline A. and George R. Morrison Charitable Trust, Charles and June Gates, Lockheed Martin, The Kresge Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, Martha S. and Cortlandt S. Dietler, Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation, CTM Foundation and the Colorado Department of Education.
Visuals Available to the Media
· Artists’ renderings of the Museum’s new west façade
· Current photos of the new architecture will be available in late September
Please call Julia Taylor at (303) 370-6384 or Jim Berscheidt at (303) 370-6407 for more information.
Museum Information
Background: The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region’s leading resource for informal science education. A variety of engaging exhibits, discussions and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the natural wonders of Colorado, Earth and the universe. Visitors are invited to participate in science learning and become more engaged with what they see, feel and hear. During adventures at the Museum, you’ll learn about current science topics in the news. You’ll also experience the prehistoric past. The Museum is famous for its interactive children’s discovery centers, ancient dinosaur bones, Egyptian mummies, wildlife exhibits, colorful gems and minerals, the Hall of Life health center, awe-inspiring IMAX® films, dynamic temporary exhibitions, new scientific discoveries and visionary speakers.
Currently at the Museum: See how the Colorado Front Range looked millions of years ago at Ancient Denvers, through December 2, 2002. Phipps IMAX® Theater is located at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and is now showing the IMAX® films Journey into Amazing Caves through March 9, 2003 and Space Station (opening October 4, 2002). Gates Planetarium is currently closed for major upgrades and will reopen in 2003.
Standard Hours of Operation, Ticket Pricing and Discounts: The Museum is open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed December 25). General admission tickets are $9 each for adults and $6 each for juniors (3-18) and seniors (60+). IMAX® tickets are $8 each for adults and $5.50 each for juniors (3-18) and seniors (60+). Combination tickets are also available, and advance tickets can be purchased online at www.dmns.org. Admission prices and hours are subject to change. Museum members are admitted free and may purchase discounted tickets to the Phipps IMAX® Theater. Discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more. For information and reservations, please call (303) 322-7009, TTY (303) 370-8257 for the hearing impaired or (800) 925-2250 outside the Denver metro area.
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