ColoradoBiz | October 22, 2026
The Boettcher Foundation has committed $2 million to the Colorado Symphony toward a planned $120 million renovation of Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver.
The commitment, announced Oct. 21, is the symphony’s first major philanthropic contribution to its renovation fundraising effort. A broader campaign has not been formally announced.
Denver has committed $105 million to the project, and the symphony must raise at least $15 million through naming opportunities as part of a broader philanthropic campaign. The city’s commitment includes $20 million in initial funding from the $950 million Vibrant Denver Bond program, which voters approved last fall.
The renovation will include acoustic upgrades, a new education center and improvements to the lobby, restrooms and other areas. Construction is targeted to begin in June 2028 and conclude in fall 2029.
Denver selected Tryba Architects + LMN, working with acoustician Paul Scarbrough of Akustiks, for the project.
“This is an important first step in our philanthropic effort,” said Daniel Wachter, the Colorado Symphony’s president and CEO.
The funding plan follows an agreement among Denver, Denver Arts & Venues and the Colorado Symphony. Denver City Council approved naming opportunities for the building’s exterior, stage, seating, lobby, education center and other interior spaces.
The Boettcher Concert Hall name is protected in perpetuity under a previous council resolution. It will continue to identify the interior concert hall and remain displayed inside the building.
Opened in 1978, Boettcher was the first U.S. concert hall designed in the round for a symphony orchestra. The foundation contributed $2 million toward its original construction.
Since 1938, the foundation has granted about $7.4 million to support the Colorado Symphony, making it the foundation’s most-supported cultural organization.
During the approximately 15-month construction period, the symphony plans to perform in Denver neighborhoods, outdoor venues and communities across Colorado.