Revitalize, Replace, Reimagine
Terrazzo and Tile at the Denver Art Museum

Feature
News

Published
October, 2020

Tags
Denver Art Museum, Materials, Stephanie Randazzo Dwyer, Construction

On February 27th, Stephanie Randazzo Dwyer spoke on Machado Silvetti’s approach to Terrazzo and Tile for the Denver Art Museum project at Surface Effects, a symposium on architectural tile and terrazzo and its conservation. The Symposium was hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, the International Masonry Institute, and the Association for Preservation Technology – Delaware Valley Chapter.

Material Processes

The new ellipitical terrazzo stair connecting Duncan Hall to the Sie Welcome Center's Sturm Grand Pavilion.
Photo Credit: James Florio

Surface Effects: Architectural Tile & Terrazzo and its Conservation:

“This two-day symposium and workshop will explore the history, design, and conservation of architectural tile and terrazzo. These masonry materials have been used historically as both decorative and functional skins and their revival, especially in the latter half of the 20th century, argues for renewed consideration. Interactive demonstrations will allow participants to better understand these materials and best practices in their repair and conservation.”

Learn more about Surface Effects here.

Elliptical terrazzo stairs, construction photo of guard-wall before and after hand-troweled and hand-polished terrazzo, the biggest challenge in the construction of the stair (left) and photo of completed stair (right)

Related Content

  • As a Principal with twenty four years of experience in the field and almost twenty years at Machado Silvetti, Stephanie has a diverse portfolio of cultural and educational projects. She is currently working on a new Museum and Visitor's Center for the Alamo and is finishing the Denver Art Museum's North Building Project, which includes the extensive renovation of the 1971 Gio Ponti-designed North Towers and the design and construction of a new welcome center at the heart of the campus. Learn more about Stephanie’s work and role at Machado Silvetti here.

  • The Denver Art Museum’s campus, comprised of several notable works of architecture including the 1971 Gio Ponti museum tower, commissioned Machado Silvetti for the design of the new Sie Welcome Center which serves as a beacon and an anchor for Denver’s emerging cultural center. Read more about the completed project here.

  • The story behind the Denver Art Museum’s new public stair found in the Welcome Center, its innovative use of terrazzo and the reimagining of Gio Ponti's work as a form preservation. Read about it here.

  • Made with curved glass panels, the Welcome Center’s façade creates an elegant surface ripple as its appearance responds to the curvature of the elliptical plan, the environment and the viewer’s own movement around the building. Learn more about the fabrication of the glass used at the Denver Art Museum here.

  • Project updates, upcoming events, construction features, & site visits — Continue exploring news articles and stories here.