McNichols Civic Center Building — Attraction in Denver

Beautiful space! Love the renovation of the building. If you book it for an event, be sure you ask what art will be on the walls and what group will be using the other space. Be clear about your expectations for the use of all spaces- including outside as your guests arrive- and get it all in writing. Don't assume the other group will be kind & respectful of your team. Be aware you may be able to hear the other event while your event is going on. The folks who work at the venue were nice & helpful but micromanaged everything we did because of pressure from the other group but didn't do anything about the noise when our event was disrupted. What we were told when we booked the space about what we were allowed to do and where we could be was recanted on the day of the event even though it didn't affect the other group at all. They did make some compromises, but only after a member of our team spoke directly with someone from the other event. Still, it felt like we had a babysitter...

Tabled here at the Denver Independent Comic Art Expo (DiNK) for a couple of days, I honestly really like this venue. Cool design inside and out (dat Greco-Roman architecture that's prominent throughout Denver), spacy enough inside to fit quite a bit of stuff, freight elevator for load in and out... Parking is whatever, just like everything else downtown, but there are lots of little cheap parking lots within reasonable walking distance and is also pretty easily accessible by public transit (rail to Union Station and take the mall ride all the way down). Bathrooms and drinking fountains on every level, too, that's convenient. And they're nice bathrooms, not janky or anything. Well...

I visited on a Sunday afternoon and there was pretty decent art on display, however, the building certainly has much more potential. The space was not utilized very wisely and most of the gallery is open floor. It might have been the current selection as the exhibits rotate often, but there is so much space available. Either some more walls or art in the middle of the floor is really needed to make the place feel more inviting. Right now it kind of feels like an empty building with some cool stuff on the walls. The hours are quite limited as well. If you are I'm the neighborhood, it is a good way to spend a couple hours around the...