NCAR Building from the back

Outdoor Picture of the Day: The Rare Backside View of NCAR

Today’s Outdoor Picture of the Day brings you something Boulder almost never sees — the hidden backside of NCAR. Perched high above the plains at the edge of the Flatirons, the National Center for Atmospheric Research is one of Boulder’s most striking pieces of architecture. Most people only know its iconic front courtyard and dramatic approach, but the back side of the building is a completely different world, full of angles, texture, and cinematic drama.

Designed by world-renowned architect I. M. Pei, the NCAR building has always carried a kind of Hollywood mystique. Its bold geometric forms, deep shadows, and futuristic pathways were so visually powerful that the building was featured in classic films, including the 1973 sci-fi thriller Sleeper. NCAR looks like a set piece straight out of a big-budget movie—monumental, otherworldly, and unforgettable.

But the backside? That’s the part almost nobody photographs. And that’s why today’s image is such a gem.

From this angle, the building looks even more like something built for cinema. The hidden terraces, the stark concrete lines, the rugged shadows cast by the Front Range sun — it all feels like a scene from a film where a scientist steps out onto a balcony, staring over the edge of the world, searching for answers. The back of NCAR reveals the quiet, contemplative side of this world-famous research center.

This image also shows why NCAR continues to stand as one of Boulder’s architectural treasures. The building doesn’t just sit on the land — it blends with it. From the rear, you can see how the structure connects with the natural slopes, cliffs, and the wide-open sky. It’s cinematic and scientific at the same time.

The hidden view reminds us that NCAR isn’t just a research hub — it’s a piece of artistic and historical significance. It helped give Boulder its reputation as a place where science, culture, and creativity converge. And today’s picture captures a side of it that most people never get to see.

A rare angle. A fresh perspective. And a reminder to always look twice — because some of the best views are behind the scenes.

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