Mayor's Design Awards

Since 2005, the Mayor’s Design Awards have honored projects throughout the city for excellence in architecture, urban design and place-making. The awards are presented to Denver homeowners, business owners, nonprofits, artists and others for their creative contributions to Denver's built environment through excellence and innovation. Many different types of projects are eligible. Previous award winners range from restaurants and galleries to supportive housing and private single-family homes to plazas and other shared public spaces. What they all have in common is the imaginative and innovative way they enhance public spaces and support community.

Nominations now open for 2025 Mayor's Design Awards!

Mayor Mike Johnston and the Department of Community Planning and Development are seeking nominations for the Mayor’s Design Awards to be handed out in early 2025. Nominations are due Friday, November 1, 2024. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony early next year. To nominate a project click the button link below.

Submit a nomination 


About the Awards

What projects can be nominated?

Many different types of projects are eligible for the awards. Previous award winners range from restaurants and galleries to single-family homes to plazas and other shared public spaces. What they all have in common is the imaginative and innovative way they enhance public spaces and create community.

To be eligible for consideration, projects must be:

  • Completed and in use
  • Entirely inside Denver city limits
  • Not owned by the City and County of Denver. Projects that were awarded funds through city grant programs and that received city funding as part of a public-private partnership but were organized or driven by private individuals or organizations may be eligible.

Contact us if you have a question about eligibility. 

What information do I need to nominate a project?

  • Name and address of the project
  • Name and contact information for the project’s owner
  • Photograph(s) or video of the project
    • DO submit before and after pictures or footage
    • DO NOT submit renderings
  • Any additional information that may support the nomination.

What are the award categories?

Awards are given to the best projects submitted, regardless of project type. The categories are intended to provide guidance on what types of projects may be submitted and on what features may be considered award-worthy. 

  • Neighborhood Gem: Projects that exemplify the unique character of their neighborhoods and are recognized by the community as local treasures.
  • Art All Around: Projects that involve murals, sculpture and other forms of art, highlighting local communities and cultures.
  • This is Home: Projects that focus on housing, such as single-family homes, small-scale multi-family projects as well as accessory dwelling units and other forms of non-traditional housing.
  • Distinctive Denver: Projects with unique features or elements that set them apart from similar structures, uses and building forms.
  • Landscapes in Focus: Projects that involve extensive and creative landscape design.
  • Building Well, Living Well: Projects that promote community health through active living, access to healthy food and transit, or walkability.
  • Active Spaces: Projects or events that activate public spaces in a way that creates interaction, discourse and community. 
  • Sustainable Style: Projects that make use of the Denver Green Code and/or promote sustainability, green building and new energy technologies.
  • Back to the Future: Projects that involve the preservation of older, historic buildings and adaptive reuse. Nominated structures do not have to be designated landmarks.
  • Density by Design: Large-scale projects, including multi-family and mixed-use developments, that address the city's growth and its challenges, particularly in high-need and high-transit areas with an emphasis on great style and design. 

 


Previous Winners

2024

  1. Farm & Market: Design + Revive, 2401 Larimer Street
  2. Boulevard One Parks, 7098 E. Lowry Blvd.
  3. The Blackwood Building, 2624 W. 32nd Avenue.
  4. ART Studios, 1200 N. Lincoln Street
  5. Concord Energy Headquarters, 1408 Wazee Street
  6. The Slate Hotel, 1250 Welton Street
  7. Central Park Community Streetscapes, Parks and Open Spaces, Central Park Neighborhood
  8. RiNo ArtPark, Arkins Park & Promenade, and Elevated Walkway, 1900 35th Street
  9. The Mercer, 2059 19th Street
  10. Prodigy Globeville Coffee Shop, 4500 Broadway
  11. Aston on South Pearl, 1250 S. Pearl Street
  12. Market Station, 1661 Market Street
  13. Santulan Architecture HQ + Tula Apartments, 388 Santa Fe Drive + 868 W. 4th Avenue
  14. One Platte, 1701 Platte Street

2022

  1. Denver Beer Co. - South Downing, 2425 S. Downing Street 
  2. Improper City, 3201 Walnut Street 
  3. Burwell Center for Career Achievement, 2190 E. Asbury Avenue 
  4. Chicano/a/x Murals of Colorado Project, La Alma Lincoln Park Historic Cultural District and 2895 W. 8th Avenue  
  5. Milo Luxury Residences, 4109 E. 10th Avenue 
  6. Citizen West 10, 140 W. 10th Avenue 
  7. Colfax Is Colfax, Colfax Avenue from the Colorado State Capitol to East High School 
  8. Platte Street Plaza, 1553 Platte Street 
  9. Viña Apartments, 2121 E. 48th Avenue 
  10. Warren Residences, 1630 E. 14th Avenue 
  11. Platte Fifteen, 2375 15th Street 
  12. Denver Art Museum – Anna and John J. Sie Welcome Center and Martin Building Project, 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway 

2021

  1. Junction Food & Drink, 2000 S. Colorado Blvd.
  2. Larimer Square Outdoor Expansion, Larimer and 14th Streets
  3. Brandon Courtyard, 1555 Xavier St.
  4. A New Old School (Strada Advertising Offices), 604 W. 6th Ave.
  5. Brasserie Brixton, 3701 N. Williams St.
  6. Gurr Residence, 3660 E. Dartmouth Ave.
  7. The Link, 1480 Curtis St.
  8. Denver Water Administration Complex, 1600 W. 12th Ave.
  9. Boiler House Residence, 3850 York St.
  10. La Tela, 603 Inca St.
  11. Oneida Park, 2255 Oneida Park
  12. Raíces Brewing Company, 2060 W. Colfax Ave.
  13. Benzina Restaurant, 4839 E. Colfax Ave.
  14. Meow Wolf Convergence Station, 1338 First St.
  15. Freyer-Newman Center for Science, Art and Education, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1085 York St.
  16. McGregor Square, 19th and Wazee Streets

2019

  1. 50fifty DTC, 5050 S. Syracuse Street
  2. 900 Penn, 900 Pennsylvania Street
  3. Home Sweet Montbello, Andrews Drive and Peoria Street
  4. Hyder Construction, 1031 Santa Fe Drive
  5. Junction 23, 2323 Delgany Street
  6. Riverview at 1700 Platte Street
  7. Silver Lining House, 357 Broadway
  8. SugarSquare, 1544 Wazee Street
  9. The Constellation, 10175 E. 29th Drive
  10. The Grand, 1777 Chestnut Place
  11. The Lydian, 2590 Welton Street
  12. Woodie Fisher, 1999 Chestnut Place

2018

  1. Backyard on Blake, 3070 Blake Street
  2. Reimagining Learning Landscapes: Garden Place Academy Research Station and Community Garden, 4425 Lincoln St.
  3. The Art Alley at Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee Street
  4. Thomas Jefferson High School Bus Shelter, RTD Bus Shelter at Hampden Ave and S. Ivanhoe St.
  5. 2200 California
  6. Steam on the Platte, 1401 Zuni Street
  7. Colorado Health Foundation Building, 1780 Pennsylvania Street
  8. The Wheatley, 530 East 25th Avenue, 2490 Welton Street
  9. Botanic Gardens Ticket Centers, 1007 York Street
  10. Molly Brown House Renovation, 1340 Pennsylvania Street
  11. The Ramble Hotel, 2450 Larimer Street
  12. River North Stormwater Outfall, Arkins Ct., between 31st and 35th streets
  13. Punch Bowl Social – Stapleton, 3120 N. Uinta Street
  14. The Rainbow Crosswalk, Broadway and Irvington
  15. The Circa Building, 1615 Platte Street
  16. The Bosler House, 3209 W. Fairview Place
  17. Black and White House @ Sloan's Lake, 4200 W. 23rd Ave. 

2017

  1. Auraria Higher Education Center, 1363 E. 9th Avenue
  2. The Deck, 651 16th Street
  3. Ashley Union Station, 1850 Chestnut Place
  4. Cobbler's Corner, 2436 W. 44th Avenue
  5. Cuba Cuba Patio Expansion, 1173 Delaware Street
  6. Illegal Pete's on Colfax, 2001 E. Colfax Avenue
  7. Alchemy Creative Workspace, 66 S. Logan Street
  8. Shift Workspaces-Bannock, 1001 N. Bannock Street
  9. Mid-Century House Restoration, 618 South Monroe Way
  10. Beloved Community, 3722 Walnut Street
  11. The Blue Trees, 700 14th Street
  12. Terraza del Sol, 355 S. Grove Street
  13. The Maven Hotel , 1850 Wazee Street
  14. Seed Building Addition, 1500 Market Street
  15. Avanti Food and Beverage, 3200 N. Pecos Street
  16. The Triangle Building, 1550 Wewatta Street

2016

  1. Denver Art Museum Administration Building, 1226 Bannock Street
  2. The ART, a hotel, 1201 Broadway 
  3. Blue Moon Brewing Company – RiNo District, 3750 Chestnut Place
  4. Room & Board, Cherry Creek, 222 Detroit Street
  5. Denizen, 415 South Cherokee Street
  6. The Metlo, 1111 Broadway
  7. Wheels Go Round, 16th Street Mall
  8. Bindery on Blake, 2901 & 2875 Blake Street
  9. Freight Residences, 3515 Ringsby Court
  10. One City Block, 444 E. 19th Avenue
  11. Galaxie, 3520 E. Colfax Avenue
  12. Torchy's Tacos, 1085 Broadway
  13. Halcyon Hotel, 245 Columbine Street
  14. Private residence, 4025 Grove Street
  15. Private residence, 2510 S. Lowell Boulevard
  16. Mental Health Center of Denver’s Dahlia Campus for Health and Well-Being, 3401 Eudora Street
  17. Regency Athletic Complex, 1600 W. Colfax Avenue

2015

  1. Bradford Real Estate Office, 2956 W. 32nd Ave.
  2. The Armstrong Center for Dance, 1075 Santa Fe Dr.
  3. The Moffat Depot, Balfour at Riverfront Park, 1500 Little Raven St.
  4. Wurstküche Restaurant, 2036 Broadway
  5. Industry, 3001 Brighton Blvd.
  6. Gulliver-Lynch House, 227 S. Lincoln St.
  7. Curtis Park Garden Cottage, 2857 Stout St.
  8. Art In Transit, 3200 - 5200 W. Colfax
  9. 16M, 1560 Market St.
  10. My Block – Wash Park, 255 Washington St.
  11. Mestizo-Curtis Park Playground, 3181 Champa St.
  12. Izakaya Den, 1487A S. Pearl St.
  13. Whittier Alley Loop, 4 blocks between Williams & Race Streets
  14. The Butterfly Walk, La Alma Lincoln Park, 1100 Mariposa St.
  15. The Boathouse, 1850 Platte St.
  16. Union Station North & South Buildings, 1705 17th St. & 1615 Wynkoop St.

2014

  1. "Meet in the Street," 16th Street Mall
  2. South Pearl Street Bike Corrals, 1476 and 1529 South Pearl St.
  3. Mariposa Phase III Interactive Stair, 1295 W. 10th Ave.
  4. Fox/Tjanden Residences, 3513/3515 Delgany St.
  5. Pellicore Residence, 301 Humboldt St.
  6. Aria Apartments, 2791 W. 52nd Ave.
  7. Emerson Lofts, 777 Emerson St.
  8. "Art Alley," between Larimer and Walnut at 27th
  9. Station 26 Brewing Co., 7045 E. 38th Ave.
  10. The Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd.
  11. 2500 Larimer
  12. University Building Pencil Coal Stack, 910 16th St.
  13. Nancy P. Anschutz Center, 3333 Holly St.
  14. Green Valley Ranch Beer Garden, 4995 Argonne St.
  15. Mile High United Way Morgridge Center for Community Change, 711 Park Avenue West

2013

  1. Evans Station Lofts, 2140 S. Delaware St.
  2. Block 32, 3200 Brighton Blvd.
  3. 2020 Lawrence, 2020 Lawrence St.
  4. Byers Place, Cedar Ave./S. Pearl St./S.Pennsylvania St.
  5. Curtis Park homes, 2643-2651 Curtis St.
  6. Spicer/Eshelman residence, 2104 Stuart St.
  7. EZE Mop Building, 1200 block of E. 17th Avenue
  8. Tharp residence, 2734 Curtis St.
  9. Patterson Inn, 420 E. 11th Ave.
  10. Studio PBA, 1575 Gilpin St.
  11. Hogshead Brewery, 4460 W. 29th Ave.
  12. Fillmore Plaza, 2nd Avenue and Fillmore Street
  13. Illegal Pete's, 270 S. Broadway
  14. Common Grounds, 2139 W. 44th Ave.
  15. DRIVE, 3455 Ringsby Court

2012

  1. The Lloyd and Sue Joshel House, 220 S. Dahlia St.
  2. Five new homes in Curtis Park, Arapahoe & 31st Sts.
  3. The Erickson Residence, 1735 W. 33rd Avenue
  4. The Denver Bicycle Café, 1301 East 17th Avenue
  5. Billy’s Gourmet Hotdogs, 2455 Larimer Street
  6. 2914 Coffee, 2914 West 25th Avenue
  7. Denver Beer Co, 1695 Platte Street
  8. Hazel & Dewey, 70 South Broadway
  9. Ace Eat Serve, 501 East 17th Avenue
  10. the GrowHaus, 4751 York Street
  11. Denver County Fair, 4655 Humboldt Street
  12. Alley Art, 25 Sherman Street

2011

  1. Engine House #5, 1331 19th Street
  2. Hangar 2, 7581 East Academy Boulevard
  3. Evans/Kampstra Residence, 2745 Umatilla Street
  4. Sustainability Park, 2500 Lawrence Street
  5. Bistro Vendome, 1420 Larimer Street
  6. Stir Cooking School, 3215 Zuni Street
  7. Anchor Center for Blind Children, 2550 Roslyn Street
  8. Bittersweet, 500 East Alameda Avenue
  9. 7-Eleven, 2341 East Colfax Avenue
  10. Vesta/Hua Residence, 2013 Grove Street
  11. Stickline/Roach Residence, 601 East Martindale Drive
  12. Tejon34, 3400 Tejon Street
  13. Ale House at Amato's, 2501 16th Street
  14. Marczyk Fine Foods on Colfax, 5100 East Colfax Avenue
  15. Jelly, 600 East 13th Avenue
  16. Great Divide Brewing Company, 2201 Arapahoe Street
  17. West Side Books, 3434 West 32nd Avenue

2010

  1. The Sage Building, 16th and Welton Streets
  2. The Center, 1301 East Colfax Avenue
  3. YesPleaseMore!, Currently at 500 16th Street, Suite 234
  4. Heirloom Gardens, Northwest Denver
  5. Crema Coffee House, 2862 Larimer Street
  6. Architectural Workshop, 280 South Pennsylvania Street
  7. Mackstaller Residence, 2530 West 34th Avenue
  8. Denver Children's Advocacy Center, 2149 Federal Boulevard
  9. Domo, 1356 Osage Street
  10. Cherry Creek Medical Building, 255 Detroit Street
  11. Fuel Cafe, 3455 Ringsby Court

2009

  1. Hodgin/Binswanger Residence, 640 Race Street
  2. Bement Residence, 999 S. Euclid Street
  3. Krisana Park Neighborhood, bounded by East Louisian Avenue, South Filber Way, E. Florida Avenue and South Edison Way
  4. Hangar 61, 8800 East 21st Avenue
  5. Dry Ice Factory, 3300 Walnut Street
  6. JohnstonWells, 1321 East 15th Street
  7. Luna Residence, 1715 Ogden Street
  8. Root Down, 1600 West 33rd Avenue
  9. in situ DESIGN, stuiotrope Design Collective and Grassroots Neighborhood Development, 2941 Welston Street
  10. The Pattern Shop, 3349 Blake Street
  11. The Reading Garden, 5th Avenue and Trenton Street
  12. The Shoppe, 3103 Colfax Avenue
  13. Steam Plant Lofts, 7752 East 4th Avenue
  14. Marco's Coal-Fired Pizzeria, 2129 Larimer Street
  15. Metro Frame Works, 4400 Tennyson Street

2008

  1. Pajama Baking Company, 1595 South Pearl Street
  2. Pasquinis & Zio Romolo's Alley Bar, 2400 West 32nd Street
  3. Garden Factory Lofts, 2340 Curtis
  4. Sugar Cube, 1555 Blake Street
  5. RedLine, 2350 Arapahoe Street
  6. Billy's Inn, 4403 Lowell Boulevard
  7. Ironton Studios, 3636 Chestnut Place
  8. Little Man Ice Cream, 2620 16th Street
  9. il Posto, 2011 East 17th Avenue
  10. Mod Livin', 5327 East Colfax Avenue
  11. The Gathering Place, 1535 High Street
  12. Finch Residence, 71 South Sherman Street
  13. Koopmeiners/Baehre Residence, 3890 Winona Court
  14. Satchel's Market, 5021 East 28th Avenue
  15. Art Garage, 6100 East 23rd Street

2007

  1. Mountain View Dental, 4590 Lowell Boulevard
  2. Olinger Complex, 16th & Boulder Street
  3. Snooze, 2262 Larimer Street
  4. Plinth Gallery, 3520 Brighton Boulevard
  5. 43 Russia, 43rd and Bryant
  6. 972 South Gilpin Street
  7. Mercury Cafe Urban Wind Farm, 2199 California Street
  8. Designed to Ride, Bus stops in Cherry Creek
  9. Erico Motorsports, 2855 Walnut Street
  10. The Curtis Complex, 14th Street
  11. Z Cuisine, 2239 West 30th Avenue
  12. Deluxe, 30 South Broadway
  13. Weir Building & Duo Restaurant, 2413 West 32nd Street
  14. Taxi 2, 3455 Ringsby Court
  15. Z Wick Place, 3601 Wazee Street
  16. Alliance Center, 1536 Wynkoop Street
  17. University Hills Cares!

2006

  1. Tattered Cover Book Store, 2526 East Colfax Avenue
  2. 1600 Glenarm Place
  3. Tables, 2267 Kearney Street
  4. Streamline Hot Rod Parts, 800 Kalamath Street
  5. The District at Southmoor Station, 6300 East Hampden Avenue
  6. 2050 North Race Street
  7. 881 South Gilpin Street
  8. DenverInfill.com
  9. Cry Baby Ranch, 1421 Larimer Square
  10. Tacotlan, 1130 South Federal Boulevard
  11. Steuben's, 523 East 17th Avenue
  12. 3528 Tejon Street
  13. Merchant's Row, 26th & Champa Street
  14. WeilWorks, 3611 Chestnut Place
  15. nine10arts, 910 Santa Fe Drive
  16. Jurassic Leaves, Louisiana & I-25 Light Rail Station

2005

  1. Aperture - 1777 Williams
  2. Bang! - 3472 WEst 32nd Avenue
  3. Box City - c/o AIA Denver
  4. Broadway Central - 6th Avenue & Broadway
  5. Buzz Cafe - 1229 East 6th Avenue
  6. Clayton Lane - Clayton Lane & 1st Avenue
  7. Forest Room 5 - 2532 15th Street
  8. Marczyk's Fine Foods - 770 East 17th Avenue
  9. Museo de las Americas - 861 Santa Fe Drive
  10. Oblio's Pizzeria - 6115 East 22nd Avenue
  11. Potager - 1109 Ogden Street
  12. Side Street - A Denver urban shopping list
  13. Sushi Den - 1487 South Pearl Street
  14. The Potted Garden - 1001 South Gaylord Street
  15.  Tommy's Thai - 3410 East Colfax Avenue