Archetype 3D

For over 4 decades, the folks over at Archetype 3D have been producing world class models to serve every market under the sun. From architectural and topography models to product models and tradeshow exhibits, engineering prototypes to academic and governmental research models, the Archetype 3D team does it all. Tour attendees will experience a true multi-disciplinary model shop, using all the classic hand skills through the latest technologies to make any design vision a physical reality.

Bureau of Reclamation Technical Service Center Hydraulic Investigations Lab

The US Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation Hydraulic Investigations and Laboratory Services Group maintains a 54,000 square foot laboratory space, where engineers and model makers fabricate highly complex models, test equipment, and instrumentation. The working models simulate the hydraulic and mechanical features of water resource structures and systems. While many model makers might recognize much of the wood, plastic and metal working equipment used in this impressive facility, it's likely that the scale and function of these models will be remarkable. Prepare to see some novel uses of materials, and models being used in ways you've never considered!

Note: This tour will take place at the Bureau of Reclamation's building on the Denver Federal Campus, and all attendees will be required to show their Real ID compliant drivers license or ID card, or a current passport. No weapons or alcohol will be permitted on the bus or on campus. Thanks for your understanding!

Distortions Unlimited

Distortions Unlimited is a Halloween manufacturing company and online store that has been "Making Monsters" since 1978! They take pride in crafting high quality, artistic, and durable animatronics, props, masks, costumes and displays for a variety of customers. Their creations are used by Halloween events, home haunters, theme parks, haunted houses, horror fans, monster lovers and collectors, just to name a few. Hidden in an industrial warehouse in Greeley, Colorado, this talented crew was featured on a reality show called "Making Monsters" that aired on the Travel Channel. With Halloween just around the corner, what better tour could model makers ask for during our October conference than a monster workshop!?

Fentress Architects Model Shop and Model Gallery

Founded in 1980, Fentress Studios is a global design firm headquartered in Denver with five studios located throughout the United States. Their talented team of professionals have designed more than $52 billion in architectural landmarks worldwide, which have garnered close to 700 awards and are visited by more than 750 million people each year.

Their firm is internationally known for innovative, award-winning design of public buildings including airports, museums, convention centers, civic and judicial facilities, laboratories, higher education, as well as office, mixed-use, high rise, worship and residential buildings. 

The tour will focus on their in-house model shop and the lobby model gallery of past projects.

HP

Founded in 1939 in a Palo Alto garage, HP has become an icon in the electronics world and a household name in personal computing and printing. A proud resident and partner of Fort Collins since 1976, the Colorado campus supports the modern divisions of the company, developing everything from conventional desktops, laptops and printers to powerful enterprise-level server systems and beyond. Our tour will focus on the workstation division model shop, which supports HP's high-end computing design endeavors. Not only will we get the chance to see some of their signature HP Jet Fusion 3D printers in person, but a wide variety of equally impressive tools and fabrication techniques and systems besides. As if that weren't enough, we'll also check out their hardware test center and material analysis labs, each stocked with awesome and unique equipment and processes of their own. Don't miss out on your chance to see a big-league shop like this one!

Otterbox

Makers of some of the toughest and best-engineered phone and electronics cases on the planet, Otterbox knows the value of intensive prototyping and exhaustive stress-testing. During this tour, we'll experience their impressive model shop as well as their quality assurance labs, filled with all manner of unique custom torture devices designed to prove the durability and resilience of their products. 

Raw Creative

Co-founded by Mike Blea and Breton Lujan in 2014, their first commercial commission was a custom patio in the Denver Highlands. Since then, their Denver, Colorado based team of experienced designers and craftsmen have delivered personalized service and unmatched fabrication capabilities, including full wood, metal and concrete studios outfitted with cutting-edge digital fabrication technologies. They support the design and architecture communities with a range of custom fabrication options, and our tour will give us a glimpse into this impressive range of workshop and material capabilities.

Reynolds Advanced Materials

Reynolds Advanced Materials is the distribution arm of Smooth-On, Inc., a name many model makers know and trust for their casting and mold-making supplies. The Denver facility regularly produces workshops and product demonstrations, teaching basic and advanced techniques to attendees in seminars ranging from a few hours to a few days. Our tour will focus on the broad range of materials available, as well as a look at their workspace and applications lab. See the tools the experts use to make their molds and achieve perfect castings. Become acquainted with the truly staggering range of Smooth-On product options, and see examples of molds and castings created using many of these lines. No matter what types of mold making you've done before, you're sure to leave this tour with questions answered and knowledge gained, able to seize future project opportunities with confidence.

Monday Backup Tour: Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys

A good model maker always has a backup plan, right? While we've thoroughly discussed, planned, and confirmed our 5(!) Denver tour locations and have confidence in their ability to host our tours, there's always a chance a shop gets slammed with work or something comes up. We're committed to providing as much value in our tour days as possible, so we secured a backup tour, ready to step in and host us if any of our primary tour sites has to back out at the last moment. If this tour doesn't occur, and your travel plans keep you in Denver through the post-conference weekend, we heartily recommend that you go visit this awesome museum during their normal business hours. 

Opened in 1981 through grass-roots community efforts, the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys houses a collection of over 20,000 objects and stages four major exhibit changes each year. Their mission is to provide educational and cultural services to the greater Rocky Mountain region through the preservation, exhibition, collection and interpretation of the visual arts using miniatures, dolls, and toys. Of particular interest to our professional members will be the collection of fine scale miniatures, crafted in a variety of media. This collection includes work by International Guild of Miniature Artisans members. Normally not open during the week, the museum is making a special exception for our group, so not only will we have the museum to ourselves, but the curator will be able to devote their full attention to any questions or interpretation we may request. Further, they will be bringing out an expanded sampling of their fine scale miniature collection, specifically for our viewing pleasure. Come be inspired by the work of fine scale artisans, and perhaps reconnect with your inner child by viewing the collection of vintage toys and dolls as well!