City of Cortez Colorado Welcome Center Cortez, Colorado

The Colorado Welcome Center was executed in adobe in 1988. The building's tourism traffic caused the need for an expansion, completed in May, 2001. This building serves as an entry point to Colorado, and a mini-museum highlights the ancient Anasazi culture and nearby museums and regional sites, such as the World Heritage site of Mesa Verde. The kiva portion is part of this mini-museum and as a space, it characterizes the classic architecture of the Anasazi. The building is a bold statement which mixes classic forms and materials with modern design.