wood, ratchet straps, and metal joints shape mobile installations for design festival in denver

common ground festival brings together designers, students, and community organizations to create five reusable installations that can move beyond the festival site and continue supporting community activity across denver.

Leyuan Li edited by christina vergopoulou October 8, 2026 4 min

Five installations bring community stories into Denver Festival

The inaugural Denver Community Design Festival, co-developed by Leyuan Li and the Denver Mayor’s Office of Community Outreach, takes place at the Denver Performing Arts Complex from September 24th to October 7th, 2026. Titled Common Ground, the festival brings together CU Denver students, practicing designers, city leaders, and community organizations to explore community-led approaches to architecture and public space.

The festival features five temporary installations developed in collaboration with five community-based organizations, including the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition and Empower Media Exchange. Each installation responds to the needs and stories of its partner organization, taking forms such as a performance stage, storytelling kiosk, or mobile bookstand.

Dismantlable structures extend festival into community spaces

The structures are organized within a linear display framework and use a flexible assembly system of wood, ratchet straps, and metal joints. Designed for easy dismantling and reassembly, the installations can be transported and adapted to different locations.

During the festival, the structures host community-led performances, discussions, and workshops. After the event, they will be relocated to the neighborhoods of their partner organizations, allowing the temporary installations to continue functioning as spaces for public interaction and community activity.

Through its combination of design-build installations, community partnerships, and reusable construction systems, the festival, co-developed by Leyuan Li and Office for Roundtable, positions architecture as a tool for public exchange while bringing community-authored perspectives into Denver’s built environment.

denver-community-design-festival-five-reusable-installations-designboom-1800-2 — five installations responding to the spatial needs of a community organization, are arranged along a linear framework

wood, ratchet straps, and metal joints shape mobile installations for design festival in denver - 1 — wood forms the primary material within the installations’ flexible assembly system

wood, ratchet straps, and metal joints shape mobile installations for design festival in denver - 2 — the installations include a performance stage, storytelling kiosk, and mobile bookstand | image ©The Unfound Door

wood, ratchet straps, and metal joints shape mobile installations for design festival in denver - 3 — each installation responds to the needs and stories of a specific community partner | image ©Esra Hima

denver-community-design-festival-five-reusable-installations-designboom-1800-3 — discussions and workshops also take place within the temporary structures

project info:

name: Denver Community Design Festival
designer: Office for Roundtable | @office.roundtable

lead designers: Leyuan Li and Danny Wills

organizing team: Leyuan Li, Elaine Minjy Limmer, Zach Kotel, Meg Touborg

community partners: Colorado Nepalese Community, Greater Denver CARES Mentoring Movement, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Empower Media Exchange, Lavender Hill Cultural District

student team: Andrea Malta, Santiago Aguilera Cepeda, Camden Cramer, Esra Hima, Kevin Harris, Andrew Kauffman, and many other CU Denver students

location: Denver, US

photographers: Mickkail Cain, Esra Hima, The Unfound Door

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