“Rhingo,” the giant 30-foot-tall colorful rhino statue, was officially unveiled at Denver’s Denargo Market on Thursday morning by developers Golub & Co. and FORMATIV, marking it as the first public art installation in the 17-acre redevelopment within the city’s RiNo Art District.
Weighing 22,000 pounds and crafted from weather-resistant steel, the statue was named through a community-driven “Name the Rhino” campaign, which drew nearly 1,500 submissions and votes and concluded on June 5.
Denver City Councilman Darrell Watson and members of the development team were also present at the unveiling event.
“The rhino is our first big step in prioritizing public elements for locals and visitors to interact with,” said Sean Campbell, CEO of FORMATIV.
“Whether you’re climbing its sides, snapping a photo, or exploring our new parks and river activation, the rhino will welcome you to Denargo Market as a landmark that will be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Besides Rhingo, four other finalist names were announced to choose from, including Rosey, Roxy, Rusty and Spike.
Rhingo features all-weather climbable panels, custom paint, integrated lighting, playful surrounding elements like birdhouses and is “fab, famous and always ready for a photo op.”
The statue, at the corner of 29th Street and Arkins Court, was envisioned by Denargo’s landscape architect Sasaki in collaboration with joint venture partners Golub and FORMATIV.
It was brought to life by local fabricators JunoWorks and Eldorado Climbing Walls, with engineering by Craft Engineering Studio.
While Rhingo is not yet open to the public for climbing, the sculpture will welcome visitors later this summer when more than 4 acres of public parks, plazas and recreational spaces will open at Denargo Market.
Early in the development process, FORMATIV and Golub said they decided to anchor the neighborhood with a public space designed for people, not just buildings.
Spread across the South Platte riverfront just north of Downtown Denver, Denargo Market is zoned to offer 3 million square feet of development, including residential, retail, office and hospitality spaces, public art and more.
Construction of infrastructure and public parks began in September 2023. Last year, the development team completed a 56-unit affordable housing community, a dog park and a multi-sport court, designed to support activities like basketball and pickleball.
Looking ahead, the area can expect more community-centered amenities such as a pedestrian plaza, a half-acre green lawn and pop-jet fountain, along with improved sidewalks, protected bike lanes and more.
Headquartered in Chicago and founded in 1960, Golub and its affiliates have owned, leased or managed more than 50 million square feet of commercial, mixed-use and multi-family real estate properties, including 50,000 residential units, valued in excess of $20 billion, located across the U.S. and internationally.
FORMATIV is a Denver-based real estate development and investment firm specializing in multifamily, hospitality, office and urban, master plan developments.
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