The building massing is comprised of four folding, petal-like volumes that spiral around the interior atrium, clad in diamond shaped aluminum scales. The façade panels reflect the brilliant quality of natural light in Colorado Springs during the day and are floodlit from strategic pole locations around the site at night. The result is a magical faceted glow accentuating the building’s twisting form. Due to the reflective and undulating nature of the façade, the lighting effect results in a dynamic experience as visitors explore the site, changing from every perspective.

An extensive series of ramps both inside and outside of the building demonstrate the driving effort to make this one of the most accessible and inclusive museums in the world. The plaza is lit with full-cutoff pedestrian-scale poles at the perimeter, leaving the central plaza unobstructed for public Olympic Games screenings and other events. The museum structure is mirrored by a green-roofed café structure, framing views of the mountains beyond. A swooping pedestrian bridge connects the upper-level plaza to the “America the Beautiful” park across the railroad tracks, which is also softly floodlit on the exterior to emphasize the connection with the museum. The bridge and plaza terrace are lit with integral handrail puck lights, to softly light the pathways.

Full Project Stats