The Denver Art Museum has announced a $12 million gift from trustee John J. Sie, and his wife, Anna, for the construction of a welcome center as part of its North Building revitalization project.

Announced in December 2016, the project is designed to unify the DAM campus and deliver upgrades that strengthen the museum's operations and relevance. The two-story Anna and John J. Sie Welcome Center will complement the museum's North Building, which houses the majority of DAM's permanent galleries, and will visually unite the DAM campus. Plans for the 50,000-square-foot center include a restaurant and quick-service cafe, improved ticketing and orientation capabilities, flexible program spaces and a state-of-the-art event space, and space for art storage and the museum's primary conservation lab.

The founder of the Starz and Encore cable television networks, John Sie has served on DAM's board of trustees since 2002. The Sie family and its foundation have contributed to several museum initiatives, including the Frederic C. Hamilton Building Capital Campaign, the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the 2011 Xu Beihong: Pioneer of Modern Chinese Painting exhibition.

"We are honored and grateful to have Anna and John Sie's generous support for this new space that provides a more welcoming connection for the campus and an open invitation for all who pass through the Golden Triangle Neighborhood each day," said Denver Museum of Art Frederick and Jan Mayer director Christoph Heinrich. "John has tirelessly worked to help guide the museum in his role as a trustee and was instrumental in ensuring the North Building continued to be vital by encouraging the breezeway across Thirteenth Avenue to connect it with the newer Hamilton Building during that design process. We are now excited to take the next important step in the North Building’s revitalization and the completion of our campus with this support."