The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has reopened its renovated Sturm Family Wing, marking the end of a project completed by Haselden Construction in partnership with Open Studio Architecture.
For the masonry trade, the headline is simple: the renovation brought back exterior masonry and other original elements dating to 1938 and 1939. The work also restored the grand staircase, plaster cornices, and terrazzo floors that had been hidden under carpet. To match the wing’s original architecture, the team used three-dimensional laser scanning to produce precast components that replicate historic forms and profiles.
Projects like this are a reminder that restoration work is about more than appearance. Existing masonry assemblies come with real-world field conditions, weathering, and detailing that have to be understood before repairs and replacements start. Scanning and careful documentation help crews coordinate new pieces with old construction, reduce surprises, and keep the finished work consistent across elevations and transitions.
The renovation included updates across the Sturm Family Plaza, Sturm Infinity Lobby, and Sturm Infinity Theater. Inside, the lobby now features a fiber-optic ceiling designed to depict the Milky Way. Outside, the plaza includes interactive shade pavilions inspired by Colorado’s four seasons, plus accessible entrances, ramps, and gathering areas.
Logistics also shaped the job. Construction took place above the museum’s Ancient Egypt exhibit, home to three 3,000-year-old mummies. Temporary mechanical systems maintained temperature and humidity so the exhibit stayed open during the work. Project superintendent Cash Mason said, “Balancing modern building performance with 1930s historic integrity required a high degree of technical ingenuity.”
Crews also scheduled work around museum programming and coordinated activity with Denver Parks and Recreation during events in City Park. The project received an Engineering News-Record Mountain States Award of Merit.
Read the full, original article from ColoradoBiz here.