Denver Architecture Foundation

Our Mission

Denver Architecture Foundation inspires people to explore our dynamic city, experience the importance of design to our quality of life and envision an exceptional future for Denver.

Our Impact

Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, the Denver Architecture Foundation has had significant impact in 2024:

• Hosted over 30 adult education programs, including walking tours, hard hat tours and lectures led by historians, architects, educators and community leaders in diverse neighborhoods in metro Denver! 
• Hosted Doors Open Denver in person for the first time since 2019 with old favorites like open sites and walking tours, and innovative programs like On the Boards, where local architecture firms opened their doors to the public, an inspiring keynote, and a festive celebration of Denver’s newest building. Over 3000 people benefited from these educational opportunities! 
• Partnered with 17 classrooms in Denver, Arapahoe, and Jefferson counties and 18 architecture firms, exposing 326 elementary aged students to architecture education through immersive, experiential learning delivered by professionals in the field. Most of the schools served are designated Title I, and receive federal funding based on the poverty rates of students enrolled.

And we have even bigger plans for more community impact in 2025! 

Our History

DAF was founded in 1990 as an extension of the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) Denver Chapter and has since evolved into Denver's leading architecture organization delivering robust programming focused on connecting the Denver community with the city's ever-changing built environment. Over the past three decades, DAF has maintained its focus on building public understanding and involvement with architecture, championing its interconnectedness with Denver's cultural and artistic landscapes. 

From the early 2000s to 2015, DAF focused on three signature programs: Doors Open Denver, the Cleworth Architectural Legacy Project and Hard Hat Tours. Additionally, DAF invested in Denver's most robust architectural guidebook, the Guide to Denver Architecture, now distributed in its second edition. Since 2015, DAF has further developed and improved programs to engage broad, diverse audiences in architecture experiences and education. DAF has also added Walking Tours, Audio Tours, Lecture Series, Special Events and Box City to its annual program calendar.