Building History

On April 11, 1907, the cornerstone of the McNichols Civic Center Building was laid. It set the foundation for the then Carnegie Library that would become a center of learning in Civic Center Park. That tradition continues as Denver Arts & Venues re-opened the building in 2012 as a contemporary hub for arts and culture for the people of Denver. This stunning Greek Revival building with it classic Corinthian columns and iconic colonnade across its front, offers new experiences in a classic space.

Timeline

1900s
Denver Mayor Robert Speer embraces the City Beautiful movement and acts to build a network of parks and boulevards throughout Denver, with Civic Center Park as a central focal point. This example of City Beautiful planning has earned Civic Center Park designation as a National Historic Landmark.

1910
Carnegie Library opens as the first building in Civic Center Park. The Greek Revival-style building was designed by Albert Ross of New York and funded through a $200,000 gift from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

1955
The library outgrows its space and moves to a new location on the other side of Civic Center Park and the Denver Water Board moves in.

1996-1999
The building is renamed McNichols Civic Center Building after Colorado’s 35th governor, Stephen McNichols.

2010
The inaugural Biennial of the Americas opens and transforms the building into a hub of culture, art and ideas, representing people of the Western Hemisphere for the month of July.

2012
McNichols Civic Center Building reopens as a cultural center and as one of the city’s most beautiful and unique event spaces for exhibitions, cultural performances and public events.

2016
McNichols Civic Center Building completes its second renovation adding new features like a redesigned courtyard, expanded first floor event space, upgraded restrooms and many more.