The Denver Art Museum has received a $25 million gift from Board Chairman J. Landis Martin and his wife Sharon Martin, intended to help revitalize and enhance the museum’s North Building.
The seven-storey structure, inaugurated in 1971, is the only project by Italian modernist architect Gio Ponti ever to be constructed in the United States, and was one of the first-ever high-rise art museums.
For more than two decades, J. Landis (Lanny) and Sharon have been instrumental in guiding the vision of the Denver Art Museum and have provided a longstanding commitment to major programs, special exhibitions, and important acquisitions to the permanent collection.
With their transformational $25 million gift, the largest financial gift in the museum’s history, to revitalize the North Building, they have elevated this institution to new heights.
Over-all costs for the planned revitalization of the iconic structure under the helm of Fentress Architects and Machado Silvetti are estimated at approximately $150 million, with construction intended to start by the end of 2017, and completion scheduled for 2021, when the building celebrates its 50th anniversary.