Broadway and 17th in downtown Denver, showing the contrasts of styles from different eras.
The sandstone Brown Palace from 1892, the International-style Mile High Tower from 1956,
and peeking over the top, the post-modern Wells Fargo Center skyscraper from 1984.

During the ’80s oil boom, Denver was fortunate to get this signature Post-Modern skyscraper built downtown in 1984. The unique, simple shape has become a symbol of Denver, giving the building an almost Pop-Art iconic status.

It was designed originally as One United Bank Center by Philip Johnson, an architect who was at the forefront of the modernist movement from the 1920s up to his passing in 1995 (designing the famous Glass House along the way). His International-Style exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1932 effectively named that style of architecture and for many, introduced modern architecture to the United States.

Similar iconic Philip’s designs are the Sony Tower in New York, PPG Place in Pittsburgh and the Crystal Cathedral in southern California.

This unusual Post-Modern design from 1969 by James Ream is located in Greenwood Village.

The idea was to “blend the concept of a seashell and that of a scotch tape dispenser”. This home was featured in the Woody Allen film “Sleeper“.