Credit: Arts & Venues, City and County of Denver
Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is nestled among Colorado’s dramatic sandstone formations and welcomes more than a million visitors annually. As one of the most iconic outdoor music venues in the world, Red Rocks demonstrates how historic venues can successfully integrate sustainable operations without compromising their cultural significance or visitor experience.
Its LEED® v4.1 O+M: Existing Buildings Gold certification recognizes the venue’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship while preserving the historic and natural character that makes Red Rocks a globally recognized destination. As an 85-year-old National Historic Landmark, this milestone required a thoughtful approach that balanced preservation requirements with modern sustainability best practices.
Read the full Press Release here.
Location: Morrison, CO
Certification: LEED v4.1 O+M: Existing Buildings Gold
Project Size: 159,403 Sq. Ft.
Project Type: National Historic Landmark & Event Venue
Credit: Arts & Venues, City and County of Denver
Behind the Project
As the only naturally occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheatre in the world, Red Rocks occupies a unique position at the intersection of nature, recreation, culture, and historic preservation. Denver Arts & Venues has long recognized its responsibility to protect and preserve this remarkable landscape while minimizing the environmental impacts associated with operating a world-class entertainment venue.
The venue’s sustainability journey did not begin with LEED certification. Red Rocks has maintained ISO 14001 certification since 2009 as part of the City of Denver’s Environmental Management System, establishing policies and procedures focused on environmental responsibility, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement. These ongoing efforts laid the foundation for the venue’s successful LEED Gold certification.
Working alongside VCA Green, the Red Rocks team documented years of sustainable operations and performance measures to demonstrate achievement across numerous LEED categories.
SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES
- Reduced electricity consumption by more than 20% through building renovations, LED lighting retrofits, Energy Star equipment, and high-efficiency heat pumps.
- Installed low-flow plumbing fixtures throughout renovated facilities to reduce indoor water use.
- Achieved a 54% waste diversion rate, diverting approximately 14 tons of compost and 284 tons of recyclable material.
- Transitioned to compostable food and beverage service packaging across venue concessions.
- Dedicated waste-sorting teams to help maximize material recovery after events and reduce landfill disposal.
- Implemented low-flow plumbing fixtures and water-efficient technologies that help reduce potable water consumption.
- Encouraged ridesharing, public transit connections, shuttle services, and bicycle access to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion, and parking-related impacts.
The LEED Gold certification recognizes decades of commitment from Denver Arts & Venues and the operations team, whose efforts have helped reduce environmental impacts while continuing to welcome visitors from around the world. As one of the oldest music venues in the United States to earn this level of certification, Red Rocks sets a powerful precedent for other historic landmarks seeking to advance sustainability goals.
Contact Information
Principal, VCA Green
Lead Project Manager for the Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre LEED Certification Project