About
Fentress Architects Creates Iconic Architecture that Improves the Human Environment
Founded in 1980, Fentress Architects is a global design firm headquartered in Denver with five studios located throughout the United States. Our talented team of professionals have designed over $43 billion in architectural landmarks worldwide, which have garnered over 600 awards and are visited by more than 650 million people each year.
Award-Winning Experience + Expertise
Historical Timeline
1980
1985
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1980
Curtis Fentress founds C.W. Fentress & Associates
1985
First ground-up high-rise, 1999 Broadway, opens in downtown Denver, and contributes to Denver Business Magazine recognizing the firm as a “Top Ten” business in Denver.
1987
Win second national design competition for Phase I of the Colorado Convention Center, groundbreaking occurs the next year and it is inaugurated during a 10-day celebration in 1990.
1990
Firm named changed to C.W. Fentress & J.H. Bradburn Associates
1992
Win first international design competition for Incheon International Airport, which opens to rave reviews nine years later.
1993
Natural Resources Building in Olympia, Washington receives Architecture and Energy Award, a testament to the firm’s early commitment to sustainable design.
1994
Awarded Colorado AIA Firm of the Year in recognition for contributions to both the profession and the built environment.
1995
Denver International Airport opens and has since won over 40 awards, including more than 20 that distinguish it as one of the best airports both in North America and worldwide.
1996
Curtis Fentress is elevated to a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a monograph of his work is published by l’Arcaedizioni.
1998
First stadium project: Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos.
1999
Fentress University, an internal AIA/CES provider, is founded to facilitate continuing education.
2002
Civic Builders is published, which showcases 30 contemporary projects by a wide selection of architects—from the world renowned
to the little known.
2004
Our first permanent satellite office opens in Washington, DC to support the National Museum of the Marine Corps and expand the firm’s presence on the east coast.
2005
Firm name is abbreviated to Fentress Architects following Jim Bradburn’s retirement in 2003 after 23 years of steadfast dedication and innumerable contributions.
2006
San Jose studio opens, followed two years later by the Los Angeles studio, to support a growing number of projects in California.
2009
At 60-stories-tall, Arraya Tower in Kuwait City is the firm’s first project located in the Middle East and was, as of this year, the fourth tallest in the world.
2010
Curtis Fentress is awarded National AIA Thomas Jefferson Award in recognition of contributions to public architecture.
2011
The new Central Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport opens as largest design-build airport project completed to date.
2015
The Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport achieves U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold certification. At 1.25 million square feet, it is the largest terminal in the world with LEED certification.
2016
Invited by the European Cultural Centre and the Global Art Affairs Foundation, Fentress presented Now Boarding at the Venice Biennale from from May 28 – November 27, 2016. The exhibition explored the past, present and future of airport design.
2017
Fentress selected for their first embassy project by Statsbygg, the Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property, to design the 30,000-square-foot expansion and renovation of the Royal Norwegian Chancery in Washington, DC.
2019
The elliptical glass façade of the Sie Welcome Center at the Denver Art Museum is constructed. It is the first structural glass wall of this scale and size in North America.
2020
Clark County Government Center is heralded ”an architectural gem” as it wins AIA Western Mountain Region’s 25-Year Award.
2021
Deborah Lucking becomes firm’s first woman and ninth principal (joining current principals Curtis Fentress, Mike Winters, Steve White, Ned Kirschbaum and Brian Chaffee) to be elevated to the AIA’s College of Fellows. Only three percent of all AIA members hold this distinction.