Launched in 2019, Denver’s Connecting Auraria Project emerged at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the early stages of the COVID‑19 pandemic, when cities nationwide began rethinking how streets function and whom they serve. In response, Denver accelerated a bold shift toward people‑focused transportation, rapidly implementing transformational bike, pedestrian, transit, and placemaking projects downtown. Larimer Street, one of the city’s most iconic and dynamic corridors, became a proving ground for this new vision.

Stretching from surrounding neighborhoods through downtown and into the Auraria Campus, Larimer Street carries multiple identities and demands a flexible design approach. The closure of Larimer Square revealed the corridor’s untapped potential as a civic destination, activating the street with outdoor dining, events, and social life. Following extensive evaluation, the City made the closure permanent, removing Larimer Street from the downtown Transit Priority network and opening the door to a fundamentally different multimodal future.

The Connecting Auraria Project centered on reconstructing the 60‑year‑old Larimer Street Bridge over Cherry Creek, just west of Larimer Square. With vehicular traffic patterns dramatically changed, the project reimagined the corridor as a curbless, shared‑space street that prioritizes pedestrians and bicyclists while maintaining essential vehicle access. The design strengthens critical connections between the Auraria Campus, University of Colorado satellite facilities, downtown transit, regional trails, and nearby restaurants and retail, uniting destinations on both sides of Cherry Creek.

A defining outcome of the project is the creation of a cohesive, people‑centered public space. Clearly defined zones for walking, biking, and limited vehicle access, paired with enhanced interface controls, support safe, easy-to-navigate movement for all users. A strong sense of place is established through a dual‑sided gateway, coordinated materials, and a unified vocabulary of paving, lighting, and site furnishings. The Larimer Street Bridge serves as a visual and memorable promenade.

Designed with resilience in mind, the curbless street configuration allows the corridor to adapt over time. Its flexible layout can respond to shifting post‑pandemic travel behaviors, evolving transit priorities, and future development, ensuring Larimer Street remains a vibrant, adaptable connector and a lasting civic asset for downtown Denver and the Auraria Campus.