A first of its kind in Denver, Buell Public Media Center provides an innovative hub for public-facing media services. Located in the growing Arapahoe Square neighborhood, this $34MM development supports the creation of a city where everyone is seen and heard while forging a new journalism paradigm focused on community-centered storytelling. A commitment to further developing Arapahoe Square and its mission to create a more inclusive space for media in our center city.

Tryba Architects’ design of the 93,000-square-foot Buell Public Media Center supports a diverse program centered around performance, technology and media while reflecting the architectural character of the emerging downtown community and uniquely expressing Rocky Mountain Public Media’s vision and culture in the urban context. The design responds to the building’s location in a vibrant neighborhood, not only implementing the technical requirements of the programming, but turning it “inside out” to truly engage the community. Civic and inviting, generous glazing at the street level reveals views into the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Performance Studio. Live studio spaces for KUVO JAZZ on the second floor offer views of 21st and Arapahoe, further celebrating a new cultural beacon at an important downtown intersection. 

Mortenson was proud to partner with Rocky Mountain Public Media on this ambitious effort to create a hub for journalism and public media in the heart of Denver. Mortenson served as the design builder on this project. Given the highly technical, specialized nature of the facility, as well as the many public-facing components, this was a particularly complex build out. Through close collaboration with all project partners and despite challenges to the construction timeline as a result of the pandemic, Mortenson delivered the project on schedule and budget.