Since its opening in 1995, Denver International Airport (DEN) has established itself as one of the preeminent airports in the world, serving nearly 65 million passengers in 2018. With approximately 16,000 acres of land available for commercial development, it has the largest commercial land holdings of any airport in the United States. As DEN approaches 25 years in operation, the airport created a strategic plan for development and a bold vision for the future. The Commercial District Urban Design re-images four key districts outlined in the strategic plans to create vibrant commercial, retail and hotel destinations centered on placemaking, connecting to the prairie landscape, and enhancing user experience while driving economic development and job creation for the region.
Livable Cities Studio has been selected as a part of a large interdisciplinary team to plan portions of DEN’s land along Peña Boulevard for commercial development opportunities. DEN’s long-term vision imagines four districts where new commercial development will create vibrant hubs of activity centered on placemaking, connecting to the prairie landscape, and enhancing user experience while driving economic development and job creation for the region.