Aspen Grove

Aspen Grove Climber large-scale public art sculpture in Denver featuring steel aspen tree structures with elevated spherical platform

About This Project

Aspen Grove — Denver, CO — 2024

Aspen Grove is a large-scale public sculpture and immersive climbing environment created for the redevelopment of Denver’s 16th Street Mall. Commissioned in collaboration with PCL Construction and the City of Denver, this site-specific exterior public sculpture transforms an urban nexus into an interactive and organic experience in the heart of the city.

A grove of graceful structural aspen trunks rises from the ground, suspending a nestlike spherical sanctuary above. The a spiral stair and lower, ADA compliant nest swing invite moments of discovery and play. Overhead, a canopy of oversize leaf forms filter light and shade, immersing visitors in an imaginative forest that feels both natural and fantastical. An example of organic, biophilic inspiration with engineered form, Aspen Grove invites visitors to climb, explore, and inhabit the structure, engaging diverse audiences with a surprising landscape of sculpture and environment.

Developed in collaboration with a team of civil engineering project partners Aspen Grove reflects a commitment to experiential public art and urban placemaking, creating a destination that encourages interaction and community engagement within a dense civic setting.

Fabricated and installed by Engineered Artworks.

Materials: Steel, HDPE, rope
Dimensions: 18′ x 18′ x 30′
Location: 16th Street Mall, Denver, CO
Commissioned by: City of Denver, PCL Construction
Lead Artist: Sean Orlando
Executive Producer: Jay Kravitz
Project Manager: Peter Platzgrummer
Design Engineering: Andrew O’Keefe (Figure13)
Fabrication & Installation: Engineered Artworks
Transport: Artifact Logistics