Denver International Airport Hosts Awards Event for Sustainable BARKitecture Dog House Competition
The votes are in, so join Denver International Airport (DEN) and special host, former Denver Broncos running back Reggie Rivers, as we announce the winners of the Sustainable BARKitecture Dog House Competition!
For the last few weeks, the public has been voting online at Flydenver.com/bark (voting continues through midnight tonight) for their favorite solar-powered dog house as created by local design and architecture firms. The results of the online voting, along with the results of a panel of judges, will be revealed during the awards ceremony from 4-6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 9 on the Plaza between the Jeppesen Terminal and the Westin hotel. Seven design teams will take home awards in various categories, including “Best in Show,” “Reserve Best in Show,” “Most Sustainable” and “Most Innovative.” A special selection panel will include representatives from DEN, Dumb Friends League, Panasonic and the U.S. Department of Energy. Additional awards will include the “People’s Choice Award” and the “Kid’s Choice Award” as chosen by the public, as well as the “Dog’s Choice,” as selected by dogs of the airport’s Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS).
Panasonic donated the solar panels for this competition and local design and architecture firms donated their time and materials to create these unique dog houses. The 15 dog houses are on display through Oct. 9, located on the plaza, just steps from the commuter rail station.
Dog lovers can also take home the house of their dog’s dreams through an online auction hosted by the Dumb Friends League. Bids start at a minimum of $300 and will be accepted through Oct. 9 at midnight at www.flydenver.com/bark. Each of these unique dog houses are valued at between $1,200 and $11,000. All proceeds will support the Dumb Friends League’s mission of ending pet homelessness and animal suffering.
Members of DEN’s CATS program served as inspiration for the design of the houses, which catered to each dog’s size, unique personality and preferences. In addition to solar energy, each dog house integrates sustainable features such as rainwater collection, solar-powered lights or fans, reclaimed materials or passive cooling. To learn more about the overall CATS program at DEN, visit www.flydenver.com/cats.
DEN’s Sustainable BARKitecture Dog House Competition is being held in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, which will be held on airport property at 61st and Peña Blvd. from Oct. 5-15. The Solar Decathlon is a collegiate competition of 10 contests that challenge student teams to design and build full-size, energy-efficient, solar-powered houses. The winning team most successfully blends design excellence, smart energy strategies, innovation, and market potential. The Solar Decathlon allows visitors to tour the team houses free of charge and visit the Sustainability Expo to gather ideas to use in their own homes. For more information about the Solar Decathlon, visit www.solardecthalon.gov.