DENVER — June 23 — The Denver Museum of Nature & Science received the 2017 Buildy Award from the Building Museum Symposium for the Morgridge Family Exploration Center and Avenir Collections Center. The award recognizes the Museum’s leadership in creating a space with a lasting positive impact on the community that was delivered on time, within budget and without debt.

“The Buildy Award is not a building design award; rather it is recognition for the process we used to plan, design and now live in the new wing,” said Kelly Tomajko, director of collections operations at the Museum. “Since opening the Avenir Collections Center, behind-the-scenes visitation has increased more than 500 percent, and the Morgridge Family Exploration Center continues to receive great response from our community.”

In the Morgridge Family Exploration Center, visitors of all ages engage with science in new ways through Exploration Studios for today’s students, a second temporary exhibition gallery, a lively atrium space, a completely redeveloped Discovery Zone for early learners, and the beautiful outdoor Boettcher Plaza with eye-catching public art.

The Avenir Collections Center totals 63,000 square feet in two underground levels devoted to providing consolidated housing for 4.1 million artifacts and specimens in state-of-the-art climate conditions for the first time in Museum history, ensuring they are both preserved and accessible to the public for generations to come.

For more information about the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, visit dmns.org.

About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region’s leading resource for informal science education. Our mission is to be a catalyst and ignite the community’s passion for nature and science. The Museum offers a wide variety of engaging exhibitions, programs, activities and scientific research to inspire public appreciation and understanding of the wonders of Colorado, Earth and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205. Information: dmns.org or 303.370.6000. Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District. The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Connect with the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.