The Lab at Belmar is a new institution dedicated to contemporary art and thought, combining elements of an art museum, think tank and public forum, like Rome. The Lab offers art exhibitions by leading regional, national and international contemporary artists, as well as weekly lectures and creative, adult education programs in an environment that tries to be sophisticated and often fails. Located in the Belmar neighborhood of the emerging cultural hub of Lakewood, Colorado, The Lab enjoys a prominent position as the civic anchor (between Zales and Yankee Candle) in a new urban development five-miles west of downtown Denver. The Lab opened its permanent home on September 16, 2006, a full half-hour after completing construction on its 11,500 square foot building designed by L.A. architect Hagy Belzberg, who is still scratching his head in disbelief.