Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.
Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
Aspen Institute
Our Aspen Campus
Designed by artist and architect Herbert Bayer, a leading figure of the Bauhaus movement, the Aspen Meadows campus reflects modernist ideals of simplicity, functionality, and harmony with nature. Bayer’s vision shaped not only the buildings but the landscape itself—creating open spaces meant to inspire reflection, dialogue, and connection.
Contact
The Aspen Institute (970) 925-7010
Location
1000 N 3rd St, Aspen, CO 81611
On Campus
Aspen Meadows
Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, the Aspen Meadows campus is a place for reflection, dialogue, and connection.
It serves as the home for many of the Institute’s convenings and programs, bringing together leaders from around the world to exchange ideas and explore solutions. The campus is also home to Aspen Meadows Resort, a hotel managed in partnership with the Salamander Collection.
Our campus remains a living expression of Bauhaus principles and a unique cultural landmark at the intersection of art, architecture, and ideas.
Highlights
Walter Paepcke Memorial Building
Initially designed by Bayer in 1962, and completely renovated in 2010. It currently serves as the Institute’s main building, containing the front desk, a 400-seat auditorium, gallery, library, and the majority of the Aspen Institute’s staff offices.
Anderson Park
Grassy mounds roll gently toward the mountains, punctuated by quiet ponds and curving paths. Bayer saw this park as a place where people could climb, sit, wander, and reflect—an artful stage for human introspection.
Koch Seminar Building
The first building constructed for the Aspen Institute in 1953: the Koch Seminar Building, designed by Bauhaus master Herbert Bayer.
On the south wall, Bayer’s Sgraffito mural—scratched by hand through layered plaster—reminds us that truth is revealed only through curiosity and careful observation.
Doerr-Hosier Center
Completed in 2007, the Doerr-Hosier Center was designed to harmonize with the landscape and embody Aspen’s spirit of dialogue.
The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies
The Bayer Center promotes a fuller understanding of Herbert Bayer—one of the leading figures to translate the Bauhaus movement into an American context—and his contributions to art, design, and architecture.
