Insider Tour: Bluff Lake Nature Center

Doors Open Denver Early Bird ticket sales begin on July 21st at 4pm for DAF Members and end on August 4 at 4pm, when DAF Member pricing will increase. DAF Membership will be verified upon ticket purchase. Click here to become a DAF member. Tickets will be available for non-DAF members beginning August 18.

About the Tour: This tour will walk visitors through the holistic design approach to the Nature Center’s new building, highlighting how the design prioritized site access, way-finding, shaded outdoor spaces, and accessibility. Participants will also learn how the various spaces are organized to efficiently provide both indoor and outdoor program spaces including classrooms, public information areas, public restrooms, and shared and individual work areas for staff. Sustainability features and strategies will be discussed, as well as the collaborative process from design through construction involving the client, contractor, owner’s representative, and design team.

About Bluff Lake Nature Center: Located in the heart of northeast Denver, Bluff Lake Nature Center is a 123-acre wildlife refuge that welcomes over 100,000 visitors a year. BLNC educates individuals to be engaged, resilient, and curious; conserves a natural area in the city; furthers equity in outdoor access; and nurtures and restores the health and well-being of communities and ecosystems.

The building is a 5,000 square foot Net Zero public lobby, educational facility, and administrative hub for the organization. The design is conceived as a gateway to the larger landscape, drawing guests through the structure and into the site. It is designed to blend into the landscape and direct views to the ecologically rich site below and mountain ranges in the distance. Large overhangs create outdoor classrooms, gathering areas, and collaboration spaces, while also supporting photovoltaic panels to meet the Net Zero goals.

About the Tour Guides: Rachel Hutchens (she/her) has been the Executive Director of Bluff Lake Nature Center since 2018. Rachel has helped grow the organization’s education programs, diversified and strengthened the organizations income sources, and worked to increase the site’s accessibility to diverse communities. Rachel was a part of the University of Denver Institute for Leaders in Development 2022 cohort and attended a Women’s Executive Leadership course at Yale University in 2023. Rachel has led the $8.5M capital campaign to fund the Campus Improvements Project, as well as been instrumental in the design, management, and organizational sustainability of the project.

Diane Lipovsky is the Co-Founder and Principal of pioneering landscape architecture studio Superbloom. With over 14 years of experience, Diane brings a nuanced approach to landscapes that seamlessly blends ecological sustainability, human connection, and artistic vision. Her work spans multiple scales, uniting collaborators in projects that enrich the environment, support holistic health, and inspire curiosity and connection. Diane partners with clients and communities to create deeply resonant and impactful landscapes, prioritizing rigorous research, craftsmanship, and design excellence. She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (GSD) and a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema-Television from the University of Southern California, blending analytical precision with creative storytelling.

Bunny Tucker, AIA, CPHD is a Senior Architect at Shape Architecture Studio in Denver. She is a licensed architect and a certified Passive House designer with over a decade of experience in high performance design. Before joining Shape, she worked at both KieranTimberlake and DIGSAU in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to architecture, she studied environmental policy and taught high school science with Teach for America. She combines her background in sustainability with her passions for educational and environmental justice to design spaces that contribute to human health, address climate change and resiliency, and restore ecosystem function. As a leader within the AIA’s Committee on the Environment and an ardent proponent of Passive House construction, she expands her reach to educate practitioners and influence policy.

Accessibility: We will be walking across trails, dirt, and uneven ground on the site as well as exploring an active construction site. The site does not have drinking fountains or bathrooms, so please plan accordingly. There will be little to no opportunity for seated rest and the tour may include some stairs.

******* IMPORTANT *******

This is an active construction site and anything can happen. PPE (hard hat, safety vest and safety glasses) is required for this tour. DAF will have loaner sets available for use, but if you would prefer to bring your own, please do so.

For safety purposes, attendees’ clothing must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Close-toed sturdy shoes: Boots do not have to be steel toe. Hiking boots are permitted if they are durable and at least ankle high. Tennis shoes, high heels, sandals, flip flops, and fashion boots are not acceptable footwear for the tour.
• Full-length pants or jeans: Pants must be long enough to touch the top of your shoes. Shorts, capri pants, skirts and dresses should not be worn.
• Shirts with minimum four-inch sleeves.

Refund policy: The Denver Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization. Ticket sales support the Foundation in continuing to provide quality events to the public. We are unable to provide refunds or credits for any reason less than 14 days prior to the event.

Please note that DAF tours take place rain, snow or shine. If your tour includes an outdoor portion, please dress for the weather. DAF staff will contact all attendees directly should a tour be cancelled for any reason.