National and State Register

Denver Municipal Auditorium (Quigg Newton Denver Municipal Auditorium)

Denver County

Completed in 1908, this Renaissance Revival style arena/theater was designed by Denver architect Robert Willison.  Constructed of buff brick, the three-story terracotta trimmed building featured prominent corner towers that were topped with cupolas. 

A view of the auditorium from inside the Denver Center of the Performing Arts with the arched glass roof overhead and latticed shadows on the ground and building below.

Denver Municipal Auditorium (Quigg Newton Denver Municipal Auditorium)

The massive 246 by 145 foot building was second only to New York’s Madison Square Garden in size.  Associated with Denver’s City Beautiful movement, the completion of the building marked the high point of Mayor Robert W. Speer’s first term in office.  A 1940 annex was expanded in 1950, and the building remains in use as a component of the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Robert Willison - Architect

National Register

Address

1323 Champa St. / Denver

Site Number

5DV.521