Mayor Mike Johnston and Community Planning and Development have announced the official nominees for the 2025 Mayor's Design Awards. This is the 20th anniversary of the awards event, and this year will feature a broadened scope of recognition to highlight more of the great work happening in Denver. The nominees span a variety of project types and uses from affordable housing, transit-oriented development, community gathering places, small local businesses, supportive services, and new and improved open spaces. Together, the projects showcase how thoughtful design can help the city achieve its goals to reduce homelessness, drive down housing costs, increase public safety, improve climate resiliency and make Denver the best place in America to raise a family.
View photo gallery of nominated projects
Read full press release
Join us for the awards ceremony
Winners and honorable mentions will be announced and recognized at a ceremony Wednesday, April 9. The event is free and open to the public.
2025 Mayor's Design Awards Ceremony
5 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, 2025
The Studio Loft at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1400 Curtis Street
RSVP to the event
Vote for the People's Choice Award
Members of the public are invited to join in the celebration of the best in Denver architecture, urban design and placemaking by voting for their favorite project to win the first-ever People’s Choice Award.
Cast your vote
Since 2005, the Mayor’s Design Awards have honored projects throughout the city for excellence in architecture, urban design and place-making. The awards are presented to Denver homeowners, business owners, nonprofits, artists and others for their creative contributions to Denver's built environment through excellence and innovation. Many different types of projects are eligible. Previous award winners range from restaurants and galleries to supportive housing and private single-family homes to plazas and other shared public spaces. What they all have in common is the imaginative and innovative way they enhance public spaces and support community.
What projects can be nominated?
Many different types of projects are eligible for the awards. Previous award winners range from restaurants and galleries to single-family homes to plazas and other shared public spaces. What they all have in common is the imaginative and innovative way they enhance public spaces and create community.
To be eligible for consideration, projects must be:
- Completed and in use
- Entirely inside Denver city limits
- Not owned by the City and County of Denver. Projects that were awarded funds through city grant programs and that received city funding as part of a public-private partnership but were organized or driven by private individuals or organizations may be eligible.
Contact us if you have a question about eligibility.
What information do I need to nominate a project?
- Name and address of the project
- Name and contact information for the project’s owner
- Photograph(s) or video of the project
- DO submit before and after pictures or footage
- DO NOT submit renderings
- Any additional information that may support the nomination.