Committee moves to approve $3.59 million contract for Donald Lipsky’s Great Hall sculpture at Denver International Airport

Denver airport officials asked the Business, Arts, Workforce, Climate, and Aviation Services Committee on Jan. 29 to approve a $3,590,000 contract with the Lipsky Group to fabricate and install a new public artwork, The Stars and the Cottonwood, as part of the Great Hall completion at Denver International Airport.

The piece, designed by artist Donald Lipsky, was selected through a competitive process that began in 2018 and was awarded in 2019. Airport staff said the project is funded from the city’s public art ordinance set‑aside (1% of qualifying capital projects) and represents the second phase of a contract that separated design work during pandemic delays.

Airport presenters described the sculpture as a freestanding steel work about 60 feet tall and 70 feet wide at its tallest point, accented with roughly 30,000 crystals and a base inspired by Red Rocks. Stacy Stegman, senior vice president of communications, marketing and customer experience for Denver International Airport, told the committee the airport expects the artist to fabricate the work over the next two years and install it “by the time the Great Hall opens,” which staff said is scheduled for the end of 2027. Stegman also said routine maintenance would be performed overnight to minimize impacts on passengers and that the artist has prior experience using crystals in public installations.

Council members asked detailed questions before formal action. Councilman Fluitt asked whether the sculpture would use foam components and whether any outgassing risks (for example, formaldehyde emissions) had been evaluated; airport staff said they would follow up with details on materials and did not provide a specific foam type during the briefing. Councilwoman Diana Romero Campbell asked about anticipated short‑term parking and drop‑off activity around the installation; airport staff said the airport is reviewing parking and expects to return on Feb. 19 with a fuller Great Hall reveal, including parking plans.

Airport staff said the overall project budget is about $4 million, with the $3,590,000 contract covering fabrication and installation services under a three‑year agreement. The project selection process was described as having opened with a request for qualifications in 2018 (about 540 submissions), narrowed through finalist rounds, and ultimately selecting Lipsky. The presentation included examples of Lipsky’s other public work and airport staff noted it is the largest public art project the airport has undertaken.

After the briefing, a committee member asked for a motion to move the item; a motion and a second were recorded on the transcript. The transcript records no roll‑call vote or tally for the item; committee proceedings continued to airport announcements. The transcript does not show any recorded objection to moving the item, and staff indicated they were seeking the committee’s approval.

Airport updates given to the committee during the same session included a report of record passenger numbers for 2024 (staff cited roughly 82.3 million passengers and a nearly 6% increase over the prior year), a new seasonal route by Contour Airlines to Moab beginning April 2025, and Lufthansa’s planned Airbus A380 service between Munich and Denver starting April 30 with daily flights. Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport, also announced the airport’s internship program opening for applications and noted a recently dedicated artwork on Concourse B.

Discussion versus decision: the presentation and committee questions were recorded as discussion; a motion was made and seconded to approve the fabrication and installation contract. The transcript does not include a formal roll‑call vote or a recorded tally; airport staff and committee members proceeded with announcements and other business after the motion and second.

Officials identified next steps as: staff to provide follow‑up information on materials and foam use if relevant, a return briefing on the full Great Hall reveal and parking on Feb. 19, and execution of the contract if the committee formally approves the item through the council’s process.

The committee’s exchange showed support for the artwork’s concept and selection history, alongside questions about construction materials, maintenance, and passenger access that staff committed to answer before installation.