Denver seeks $1.63 million contract increase for Civic Center Greek Theater upgrades
The proposed amendment would raise Studio Gang Architects’ Civic Center Next 100 Phase 1 contract to $4.43 million and extend it through October 2028 for Greek Theater design and construction administration.
Denver is seeking to add $1.63 million to Studio Gang Architects’ design contract for Civic Center Park’s Greek Theater to fund a weather-protective stage canopy and new lighting, audiovisual, telecommunications and security systems.
The proposed amendment would increase the professional-services contract by $1,633,824, from $2,799,732 to $4,433,556, and extend its term through Oct. 31, 2028, from Oct. 31, 2026, according to the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure contract request.
Studio Gang’s added work would include completing the Greek Theater stage-canopy and related stage-systems design, along with construction-administration services. The project covers the Greek Theater and Central Promenade in Civic Center Park, between Colfax and 14th avenues and Broadway and Bannock Street.
The amendment is listed as consent item 26-1280 on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agenda for Sept. 9.
Project budget and funding
Denver’s Civic Center Next 100 project page puts the Phase 1 design-and-construction budget at $50 million. The city identifies funding from Denver Parks and Recreation, the Downtown Denver Development Authority, the Elevate Denver Bond, the Mellon Foundation and private donations facilitated by the Civic Center Conservancy.
The contract request lists Parks and Recreation, grant and Downtown Development Authority funds as sources and says the Elevate Denver Bond supports Phase 1. The $4.43 million figure is for Studio Gang’s design and construction-administration services, not construction itself; the amendment request does not provide a construction-only cost breakdown. The original City Council contract record shows the initial $2.8 million agreement covered final design and related Phase 1 professional services.
Schedule and park access
The project page says final Phase 1 design was scheduled through the third quarter of 2025, construction was scheduled to begin in fall 2025 and substantial completion was expected in the fourth quarter of 2027, with the park fully reopening in late 2027. The city cautions that weather, supply-chain issues and field conditions could change the schedule.
Civic Center Park will not be completely closed, the city says. The central portion, including the Central Promenade and Greek Theater area, is closed during construction, while the Broadway Terrace, the area around the Voorhies Memorial, the Great Lawn and Bannock Street in front of the City and County Building remain open. Some large Civic Center events may be affected, and some Conservancy programs have been adapted or paused. The available records do not identify specific canceled or relocated events or provide a detailed closure calendar for the Greek Theater.