National Western Center Campus Placemaking Study

Think of historic Denver and towering mountains, the open range, ranching, farming and the old West come to mind. The National Western Center (NWC), host to the National Western Stock Shows, has been an integral part of that history since 1906. But that traditional way of life is disappearing with Denver’s unprecedented growth and the strength of its increasingly tech-oriented economy. This problem is not unique to Denver—it’s a global concern that demands a new way of thinking.

The NWC Campus Placemaking Study envisions a new, one-of-a-kind destination, where Western heritage meets the future of global food and water solutions.

It will be a new home for the National Western Stock Show and a reimagined master-planned global campus with year-round experiential learning, research and development, the arts, entertainment, competitions, concerts and commerce—in the heart of Denver.

We brought the programming to life with animations and renderings that vividly shows the character of the campus and illustrates the seasonable variability of Denver in January

The first phase of construction of this massive 250-acre infill redevelopment project broke ground in 2018. It includes a newly accessible riverfront, a new light rail station, the new NWC facilities and a Colorado State University “SPUR” campus (Animal Health Building, CSU Center and Water Building), as well new roads, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and bridge connections.

The next phase, funded by a public-private partnership, will encompass a new arena, expo hall, and additional buildings and outdoor spaces to further support the NWC’s vision, goals and programming.

The project is a partnership between the City and County of Denver, Colorado State University, Western Stock Show Association, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and History Colorado, and was made possible by Denver voters. You can read more about the project and follow its evolution on the National Western Center’s website.