When you think of cities with iconic architecture, Denver probably isn’t the first—or even the fifteenth—to come to mind. Fair enough: Our beloved city isn’t home to such marvels as the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Opera House or the Chrysler Building. But the Mile High City is hardly devoid of impressive design. Its mix of historic architectural styles—from Queen Anne Victorian to Beaux-Arts—and sleek contemporary developments provides design-lovers with plenty of eye candy. (Case in point: the Denver Art Museum’s sharp-edged Hamilton Building, pictured below, which is always worth a stop-and-stare.)

Photo by Dana Smith

In this issue’s feature “8 Historic Architects Every Colorado Design-Lover Should Know and Celebrate”, we explore the lives and legacies of eight prominent architects who lived and worked in Colorado and contributed to its built landscape. Covering 175 years of architectural creativity and innovation, this story highlights the distinct points of view that have made our neighborhoods and public buildings so unique, and also provides some serious design trivia (e.g., Boulder-based architect Charles Haertling’s barnacle-inspired Brenton House appeared in the 1973 Woody Allen movie Sleeper).

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You’ll also spot an eye-catching municipal building created by Roth Sheppard Architects, which is just one example of the forward-thinking structures that have come to life here in recent years. It makes me think: What architectural wonders will call Colorado home 175 years from now?