The present owners purchased the DDC in 1996 with a mission of expanding the Center and creating a synergy of design resources. In the fall of 2004, a group of showrooms called The Collection was purchased. The Center’s name changed to the “Denver Design District” to better portray the extensive offerings available including new retail/wholesale showrooms and expanded kitchen and bath showrooms.
Articulated Wall
Designed by Herbert Bayer, the 85-foot tall sculpture is recognized as one of Denver’s major landmarks. The original developer of the Denver Design Center first saw the articulated wall in Mexico City and decided it would be a perfect landmark for the Denver Design Center. The original sculpture was built for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and stands approximately 60 – feet tall. The original artist, Herbert Bayer, was commissioned to build the sculpture exactly like the original, only taller! The sculpture was completed in 1986 and stands 85-feet tall. Shortly after its construction, the “Articulated Wall” was donated to the Denver Art Museum as a part of its three-dimensional outdoor sculpture collection.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE “ARTICULATED WALL”
- It is constructed of 32 pieces of pre-fabricated concrete elements each measuring 41′ x 5′-2″ x 2′-7″.
- The wall is held together, through the center of the sculpture, with a refueling mast taken from an aircraft carrier.
- Two million pounds of concrete were used to create the 85-foot tall sculpture.