Telluride Science: Celebrating 40th & Grand Opening, Telluride Science & Innovation Center, 7/20!

09 Jul Telluride Science: Celebrating 40th & Grand Opening, Telluride Science & Innovation Center, 7/20!

Telluride Science proudly announces the 40th anniversary and grand opening celebration of the Telluride Science & Innovation Center on July 20. This momentous event marks four decades of scientific advancement and the unveiling of the newly renovated historic Depot, now the permanent home of Telluride Science.

Telluride Science is in the final stage of a capital campaign to fund the renovation effort and has $2.5M left to raise. To learn how to contribute or to rent the Depot, contact Annie Carlson at annie@telluridescience.org.

Go here for more about Telluride Science.

The celebration begins at 4 pm for donors and supporters of Telluride Science, with the public welcome to join at 5:30 pm. The festivities will feature a celebratory toast and speeches at 5 pm with live music by The High Country.

Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the beautifully restored Depot. The upper level showcases the Aela & Don Morgan lobby, the Gallery Room, and the Samueli Family Meeting Room. The Mark Shambaugh Innovation Lounge and the Solarium Room, one of the largest gathering spaces in the Town of Telluride, are located downstairs along with a catering kitchen. The outdoor spaces are expansive with the Sally Puff Courtney gardens, a large wrap-around deck, and a patio just steps from the San Miguel River.

“The revitalized Depot will provide a permanent home for Telluride Science, as well as a beautiful gathering space for all of Telluride to enjoy,” said Mark Kozak, Executive Director, Telluride Science. “Having a home of our own for year-round programming will further amplify Telluride’s reputation as a global driver in generating ideas and solutions that address some of society’s and the planet’s most critical challenges.”

Since its inception in 1984, Telluride Science has brought together the brightest minds from around the world to tackle grand challenges and push the boundaries of science. The organization annually hosts nearly 1,400 highly-esteemed scientists and engineers, including Nobel Prize winners, from over 500 international and domestic scientific institutions.

The new center will not only serve as a hub for scientific and innovation workshops but will also be available to rent for private parties, nonprofit meetings, weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate retreats and more when not in use by Telluride Science. This flexibility ensures that the iconic building will be a vibrant part of the Telluride community year-round.

“We are proud that we were able to purchase the Depot in 2020, save it from private development, and preserve this National Historic Landmark as a community asset,” said Annie Carlson, Director of Donor Relations, Telluride Science. “There has already been a high level of interest among community members and organizations to hold events in the new space.”

The first public event to be held at the center is a dinner on August 1 for Telluride Reserve, a three-day celebration of food and wine featuring world-renowned chefs and admired vintners. Telluride Reserve is generously providing wine for the grand opening celebration on July 20.

Many nonprofits are also taking advantage of this new venue for fundraisers, including the Telluride Historical Museum, Telluride Mushroom Festival, and Telluride Theatre.

Additionally, the Telluride Film Festival will utilize the Gallery room in the Depot as an additional theatre for this year’s festival.