Denver Architecture Foundation Announced Contest Winners
The annual competition selected 30 images from 17 photographers to showcase iconic buildings across the city.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Photography
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The Denver Architecture Foundation has revealed the winners of its renamed annual architecture photo contest. The competition features a virtual exhibit showcasing 30 distinct images captured by 17 different photographers.
Why it matters
This competition serves to highlight the diverse architectural landscape of Denver through a curated lens. By featuring both contemporary structures and historical sites, the foundation encourages residents to engage with the built environment.
The contest features 30 winning images from 17 photographers, with winning entries ranging from modern structures like the Populus Hotel to historic sites like the Tivoli Brewery. The foundation recently rebranded the event, previously known as the Y/Our Denver photo contest.
The players
Denver Architecture Foundation
This organization promotes the appreciation of architecture through education, tours, and public engagement events throughout the city.
Emily Minton Redfield
She is a professional photographer who served as the primary juror for the architecture contest.
John Deffenbaugh
He is one of the selected contest winners recognized for his photography of the Republic Plaza and Populus Hotel.
Deanna Marie Raso
She earned the Best Urban Interior category award for her documentation of the Martin Building.
Frank Varney
He was named the winner of the Best Urban Detail category for his photo of the Triangle Building.
The details
Selected by juror Emily Minton Redfield, the winning images highlight various Denver landmarks including the Republic Plaza, the Martin Building, and the Triangle Building. Photographers contributed work ranging from recent captures to archival shots dating back to 2010.
Timeline
Kyle Durlam took his winning photograph in 2010.
The Denver Architecture Foundation published the contest winners in October 2026.
Culture Shift
This event reflects a broader trend of using public-facing photography contests to foster civic pride in urban development. The rebrand of the Y/Our Denver photo contest signifies an effort to refresh the foundation's outreach and modernize its engagement with local architectural history.
Residents can view the full virtual exhibit of winning images directly through the foundation's official website. These photos offer a new perspective on familiar city landmarks, potentially influencing how locals perceive or photograph these sites during their own urban explorations.
The takeaway
Architecture photography contests encourage observers to document the evolving skyline of their city. Consider reviewing these winning entries to find inspiration for your own photography of local landmarks.
Further reading
Discover more about the local art scene by visiting Denver Photography.
More information
To explore the winning entries, you can view the photo contest images on the Denver Architecture Foundation website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Denver Post.
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