Metropolitan State University of Denver, DIME Denver

Denver, Colorado

Firm

Architectural Workshop

Client

DIME Denver / MSU Denver

Area

11,080 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$1,870,000

Completion Date

01/2019

Ed LaCasse

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DIME (Detroit Institute of Music Education) Denver uses a unique, non-traditional approach for developing raw, passionate musical talent. Originally from the United Kingdom, DIME Denver is a holistic approach to music education with a focus on not only students’ performance talents, but also business, promotions, and production. A partnership with Metropolitan State University of Denver made it possible for this “garage band” program to be situated off campus to align with students’ needs.

An enclosed stand-alone gas station in Denver’s Santa Fe Arts District became the perfect environment to develop the raw talent of DIME. However, the design needed to establish space separation and definition within this large open-box building to create acoustic separation, so that areas would perform like a music studio or concert hall.

Studio classrooms incorporate graphic representations of musical artists and provide studio-quality sound. The student “hang space” is equipped with a stage for impromptu jam sessions. The live performance workshop is a fully functional performance hall that has brick walls, open rafters and bleachers to create a unique inspirational setting.