Past Construction Projects

Engineering Center North Wing Renovation

Complete reconstruction of 55,477 GSF (35,000 assignable square feet) contained within two buildings in CU's Engineering Center (EC), which are the former Aerospace Wing (now North Wing) and the North Tower. More information can be found on the project website.

Start: March 2021
Open: Spring 2023
Approved Budget: $32 million
Gross square footage: 55,477

COSINC Laboratory Addition

Renovation of an existing 3,500-square-foot research lab on the ground floor of the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Laboratory (SEEL) building. Project also includes construction of a new highly specialized cleanroom space to support the Colorado Shared Instrumentation in Nanofabrication and Characterization (COSINC) Laboratory’s micro- and nano-fabrication materials characterization program. This new 1,200-square-foot mechanical equipment room is adjacent to the renovated space to support the cleanroom’s high ventilation requirements. 

Start: Summer 2021
Open: Spring 2023
Approved Budget: $8.4 million
Gross square footage: 4,700

Imig Music Building addition

Proposed expansion plans will dramatically change the exterior of Imig Music, providing a beautiful new gathering place for students, faculty and music lovers with sweeping views of the iconic Flatirons. Brand new rehearsal and recital facilities will provide students and faculty with the spaces they need to pursue excellence in performance settings. New classrooms and a state-of-the-art recording studio, along with dedicated suites for the Entrepreneurship Center for Music and Musicians' Wellness Program, will help expand the definition of artistry for students, faculty and alumni. The new addition will also include a new dance studio and theatre classroom for the Theatre and Dance program to replace the spaces they are currently using in the Carlson building.

Start: January 2019
Open: Summer 2020
Approved Budget: $57 million
Gross square footage: 64,000

Business-Engineering expansion

The project is a building addition that will physically connect CU Boulder’s Engineering Center, housing the College of Engineering and Applied Science, to the Koelbel Building, housing the Leeds School of Business, and spark new ways to think about higher education. The project includes nearly 30,000 gross square feet of renovation of existing space and construction of 45,000 gross square feet of new space, totaling more than 74,000 gross square feet for the project. The addition will include an innovation and entrepreneurship hub where students from any discipline can collaborate with business and engineering students, faculty and local business leaders, as well as four technologically-enabled, active-learning classrooms to foster collaborative teamwork and experiential learning. Other major proposed features of the project include a 200-seat auditorium. A reorganization of William M. White business library, meanwhile, will enhance services and provide more efficient student study space.

Start: Spring 2019
Open: January 2021
Approved Budget: $45 million
Gross square footage: 74,000

19th Street Pedestrian Bridge

Fleming tower renovation

The project is a renovation of the west tower of the Fleming Building and also includes critical building system upgrades to the central portion of the building, including HVAC and data systems. When finished, the west tower will provide office swing space to accommodate other major renovation projects around campus.

Start: Janary 2019
Open: Spring 2020
Approved budget: $13.7 million
Gross square footage: ~20,000

Ramaley Biology Building expansion

The new three-story addition to the Ramaley Biology Building will provide the Integrative Physiology program--the second largest undergraduate major on the the CU Boulder campus--with new state-of-the-art research facilities. The addition will provide space for the faculty and staff currently housed in Carlson Gymnasium, as well as space to accommodate two new faculty hires for the growing program. It will include a conference room, clinical and wet lab spaces, and offices for faculty, staff and graduate students.

Start: Winter 2019
Open: Spring 2020
Approved budget: $21.8 million
Gross square footage: 29,500

Aerospace Engineering Sciences building

Start: Fall 2017
Open: Fall 2019
Approved budget: $101 million
Gross square feet: 178,294

In addition to providing world-class learning spaces, the new building on East Campus will group together aerospace engineering’s six main research clusters in a way that facilitates greater collaboration between students and faculty. Among its features will be an indoor flight environment for testing unmanned aerial systems, as well as a unique roof design that accommodates faculty research and provides the lines of sight necessary for activities like satellite tracking.

Williams Village East Residence Hall

Start: August 2017
End: August 2019
Approved budget: $96.7 million
Gross square feet: 178,000

Williams Village East is a new 700-bed residence hall proposed for construction on the south side of Baseline Road at approximately 35th Street. 

23rd Street Pedestrian Bridge

Start: July 2018
Complete: Early 2019
Cost: $4 million

The new pedestrian bridge will connect the Buff Walk along the east side of Folsom Field with university areas north of Boulder Creek, as well as the Boulder Creek path.

Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE)

Start: July 2016
Complete: Spring 2018
Approved budget: $53 million
Gross square feet: 114,000

Classroom and office spaces will be constructed over the Euclid Avenue AutoPark as part of the new Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE). 

Systems Biotechnology Academic Wing (5th Wing)

Start: February 2016
End: Spring Semester 2017
Approved budget: $43.2 million
Gross Square Feet: 57,347

A fifth wing of the Jenny Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology building will house teaching and research labs and classrooms in support of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, the Division of Biochemistry, and the BioFrontiers Institute.

Engineering Center

Start: March 2016
End: September 2017
Approved budget: $24.7 million
Gross Square Feet: 50,000

This project will focus on building system and classroom improvements in select areas of the Engineering complex.

Village Center Dining & Community Center

Start: July 2015
End: January 2017
Cost: $47,665,000
Gross Square Feet: 106,646

This project resulted in a new dining and residence life center for the Williams Village campus, replacing the Darley Commons facilities. Learn more.

Wilderness Place Renovation

Start: May 2015
End: June 2016
Cost: $10,500,000
Gross Square Feet: 60,000

This project involves the renovation of an off-campus lab building to provide modern vivarium facilities to support behavioral research groups in the life sciences programs. Considered a 7-10 year interim solution to a permanent East Campus facility, the renovation provides a timely and cost-effective alternative to either new construction or renovation of existing facilities.

Athletics Complex

Start: May 2014
End: February 2016
Cost: $142 million

This two-phase project, approved by the Board of Regents in December 2013, will move the administrative and academic functions of the Department of Athletics to a new, fourth floor suite in Folsom Stadium and then remodel and expand the Dal Ward Center. It includes construction of an indoor football practice facility and two new outdoor practice fields on Franklin Field.

Ketchum Arts & Sciences

Start: January 2015
End: Spring Semester 2016
Cost: $14 million state and campus funds
Gross Square Feet: 60,000 

This project will repair basic infrastructure, such as plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems that are severely deteriorated and require replacement to improve code issues, life safety protection, and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance.

Sustainability, Energy and Environment Complex (SEEC)

Construction Start: December 2013
Construction End: January 2015 (renovation of McAllister Building); February 2015 (new lab building)
Cost: $100 million
Gross Square Feet: 289,000 (renovation) and 115,000 (new construction)

Located on CU-Boulder’s East Campus, SEEC will bring together environmental researchers from campus and neighboring federal labs to support environmental science, environmental sustainability, and renewable energy. The project consists of constructing a new wet lab building south of the MacAllister Building, and the renovation of the MacAllister Building into a dry lab with classrooms and office space.

Folsom Parking Garage

Start: May 2014
End: January 2016
Cost: $24.8 million
Gross Square Feet: 209,000 

This two-level, below-grade parking garage, built in conjunction with the Indoor Practice Facility, has provided 555 new parking spots to serve campus. 

Campus Utility System

Start: September 2012
End: April 2015
Cost: $91 million 

The Campus Utility System project has resulted in reliable and efficient heating, cooling, and power capacity for campus buildings, while significantly reducing the university’s carbon emissions and conserving natural resources. Designed to meet both current and future energy needs, it addressed the campus’s maintenance backlog for infrastructure improvements by replacing chiller and boiler equipment that is critical to campus operations. The work included three major components: renovation of the campus Power House on 18th Street; construction of a separate, new heating and cooling plant; and installation of new utility distribution systems.
 

Grounds & Recycling Facility

Start: September 2014
End: June 2015
Gross Square Feet: 14,000

This project developed a new facility for Grounds & Recycling in the parking lot just east of Regent AutoPark, replacing the Grounds & Recycling buildings that were formerly located on Stadium Drive. The recycling portion of the building features flexible and efficient use of space in order to allow the program to increase diversion rates, adapt to changing waste streams, and recycle new materials. The Grounds portion enables more efficient indoor storage of equipment and provides better repair and maintenance capabilities. 

Glenn Miller Ballroom Renovation

Start: May 2014
End: January 2015
Cost: $3.8 million
Gross Square Feet: 15,000

This renovation will update and modernize the ballroom and kitchen spaces in the University Memorial Center, originally constructed in 1953.

Campus Data Center

Construction Start: 
Construction End: June 2014
Gross Square Feet: 2,473
Cost: $11,804,828 

This project, located in the Space Science Center on East Campus, involved the design and construction of new data center facilities to support the university's research computing needs and address an acute shortage of quality data center space on campus. The new facility supports research, academic, and administrative computing functions and complements the High Performance Computing Facility, which houses the Janus supercomputer.

Atmospheric Chemistry Lab

Construction Start: Fall 2013
Construction End: May 2014
Cost: $2.65 million
Gross Square Feet: 8,400 

The university remodeled the Cristol Chemistry and Biochemistry Building to house a lab for atmospheric chemistry and air quality research. The new lab allows scientists to do innovative experiments on air quality and climate change and helps foster collaboration between researchers at CU and other institutions.

Ekeley Sciences Middle Wing Renovation

Construction Start: Summer 2013
Construction End: August 2014 
Cost: $15.7 million
Gross Square Feet: 21,660

This project addressed life-safety improvements and modernized undergraduate chemistry teaching laboratories.

Baker Residence Hall Renovation

Construction Start: May 2013 
Construction End: August 2014 
Cost: $41.3 million
Gross Square Feet: 114,000 

This project renovated historic Baker Hall to provide an estimated 450 beds, adding amenities that include a 24-hour reception desk, common areas, study spaces, Residence Academic Program classrooms and offices, and a Faculty-in-Residence apartment.

CU-Boulder's renovated Baker Hall mixes old and new (Daily Camera, August 17, 2014)

University Recreation Center Renovation and Expansion

Construction Start: June 2012
Construction End: Summer 2014
Gross Square Feet: 304,000
Total Cost: $63 million

Construction to fully renovate and expand the existing Rec Center was initiated by student leaders to improve the outdated, overcrowded facility. Funding is provided through the sale of bonds to be repaid through student fees collected over a period of 25 years. The project will increase the size of the center by about 30%, address nearly $25 million in deferred maintenance for the center, and address accessibility concerns and safety issues. The plan includes:

• doubling strength and conditioning spaces for drop-in weight and cardiovascular fitness training
• adding an indoor turf, multi-activity gym
• adding an outdoor aquatics facility and deck area
• replacing/upgrading building HVAC, roof, fire suppression systems and access
• adding a wellness and athletic training suite
• doubling multi-purpose group fitness studio space for a range of fitness classes, martial arts, and drop-in dance and fitness activities
• renovating all spaces for the general and special needs of students, including all locker/restrooms (also adding gender inclusive spaces), lobby and meeting spaces
• reconstructing the existing, failing ice rink and related systems
• renovating two existing gyms, including adding new wood floors
• replacing the outdoor tennis courts
• building a state-of-the-art climbing gym with bouldering area

Kittredge West Residence Hall

Construction Start: May 2012
Construction End: July 2013
Total Project Cost: $22.8 million
Gross Square Feet: 74,297

This project renovated an estimated 273 beds and added amenities that include a 24-hour reception desk, student common areas, study spaces, Residence Academic Program classrooms and offices, and a Faculty-in-Residence apartment. The building, which was originally constructed in 1982, was expanded by 2,500 square feet during the remodel, which better blends campus living and learning. The renovated hall, which is expected to earn a LEED Gold rating, features sustainability features such as natural and automatic lighting and energy-efficient windows.

Kittredge Central Residence Hall

Construction Start: December 2012
Construction End: July 2013
Total Project Cost: $37.2 million
Gross Square Feet: 97,117

The new facility includes 264 student beds, with facilities that support the Residential Academic Program, including classroom and office spaces. The new building, which is expected to be LEED Gold rated, features a lobby, great room, study lounges, and outdoor features.

CU-Boulder’s new and renovated residence halls showcase new academic program, sustainability (CU-Boulder, August 19, 2013)

Broadway & Euclid

The Broadway & Euclid project featured construction of a pedestrian/bicycle underpass and bridge beneath Broadway at the intersection of 16th & Euclid. The project was a partnership between the City of Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado Department of Transportation, RTD, and CU-Boulder.

JILA Addition

Construction Start: May 2010
Construction End: April 2012
Gross Square Feet: 56, 065
Total Project Cost: $32.7 million

JILA, a joint institute of CU-Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, opened a new wing in 2012 with advanced laboratories for its world-renowned science. The six-story addition added 56,065 gross square feet to the building, bringing the total JILA facility to 162,959 square feet.

The project was a response to the institute's recent growth, to ameliorate a shortage of high-quality laboratory, office, and collaborative space. The recent expansion of JILA research into the sub-fields of biophysics and nanotechnology also required an investment in additional infrastructure.

The new wing features vibration-resistant laboratories with special flooring, better shielding from electromagnetic noise, better electrical power, and special corridors behind each lab where noisy, vibrating equipment such as pumps do not interfere with sensitive experiments. It houses 1,500-square-foot "clean rooms," where materials can be manufactured without dust and other contaminants. The top floor features a small library and quiet space where all doctoral dissertations done at JILA since the very first was completed in 1965 will be stored.

The new addition, which is on track to receive a LEED Gold rating, is about 25% more energy efficient and 30% more water efficient when compared with similar types of recently built, code-compliant buildings. It features low-flow water fixtures, increased insulation, high-performance windows, and a highly efficient heating and cooling system.

"JILA, site of Nobel Prize-winning research, expands into new wing on CU-Boulder campus" (CU-Boulder, April 10, 2012)
"JILA building at CU-Boulder debuts $32.7M 'X-wing'" (Daily Camera, April 10, 2012)

Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building

Construction Start: September 2009
Construction End: March 2012
Total Project Cost: $160 million
Gross Square Feet: 336,800

The Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building is a 336,800-square-foot research and teaching facility on CU-Boulder's East Campus. It was designed to facilitate collaboration between scientists and students in multiple disciplines to address challenges in the biosciences ranging from cancer and heart disease to the development of new biofuels.

The overall design concept of the building consists of "research neighborhoods" made up of efficient and flexible laboratories along with areas for associated laboratory support. A "main street" corridor through the facility is intended to foster interaction and collaboration. The building's labs are modular and can be changed to accommodate the evolving needs of scientists and students.

More than more than 60 faculty and 500 researchers and staff are housed in the building, which is shared by the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, the Division of Biochemistry, and the Biofrontiers Institute. The facility also provides opportunities for collaboration between researchers and biotech companies.

The building, which has earned a LEED Platinum rating, incorporates significant energy savings through its mechanical and electrical systems.

"New CU-Boulder facility to be used to tackle challenges ranging from cancer and tissue engineering to new biofuels" (CU-Boulder, April 24, 2012)
"FACT SHEET: Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building" (CU-Boulder, April 25, 2012)
"CU-Boulder unveils new $160M biotechnology building" (Daily Camera, April 25, 2012)

Williams Village North

Construction Start: January 2010
Construction End: August 2011
Total Cost: $46.5 Million
Gross Square Feet: 131,246

A residential hall with 500 beds, Williams Village North is intended to create a living-learning environment and facilitate CU-Boulder's Residential Academic Program, while also allowing a greater number of students to affordably live in close proximity to campus.

The six-story building is rated LEED Platinum, making it the first residence hall of its size in the nation to earn the U.S. Green Building Council's highest possible designation. The building, which is nearly 40% more energy and water efficient than modern code-compliant buildings of the same size, gets 12.5% of its energy from on-site solar panels. Residents have a hand in controlling the flow of electricity, as they are able to shut off power to nonessential and not-in-use outlets with single switches installed in each room. They can also monitor electricity via meters and information kiosks in the building. A free water bottle filling station shows how many plastic containers may have been diverted from landfills as users fill reusable containers.

The hall has low-flow water fixtures installed in sinks, showers and toilets, and native landscaping that requires little or no watering. Other green features include energy-efficient lighting with daylight harvesting, advanced heat-recovery systems, and low-volatile organic compound, or VOC, materials.

Williams Village North is home to two Residential Academic Programs: Sustainable by Design, and Social Entrepreneurship for Equitable Development and Sustainability.

"CU's Williams Village North earns platinum rating in LEED certification" (CU-Boulder, December 1, 2011)

Basketball/Volleyball Practice Facility

Construction Start: June 2010
Construction End: August 2011
Gross Square Feet: 44,000
Total Cost: $10.8 Million

This 44,000-square-foot indoor practice facility, adjacent to the Coors Events Center, houses two NCAA-regulation-size basketball courts. They are shared by the men's and women's basketball programs, as well as the women's volleyball program. Other spaces in the building include a ticket booth, lobby, locker rooms and offices.

The facility is rated LEED Platinum—the highest designation—by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the first LEED-certified athletic facility on the CU-Boulder campus and one of only two platinum-rated athletic facilities in the Pac-12.

The practice facility is estimated to be 40% more energy efficient and 30% more water efficient than recent buildings of similar size and function. Its features include rooftop solar panels that are capable of providing 10-12% of the building's electricity. The structure is cooled with an evaporative system that uses less energy than traditional mechanical systems. The facility also is outfitted with low-flow water fixtures, high-performance insulation and windows, efficient lighting, and lighting and heating controls that optimize energy savings.

"CU's first LEED-certified athletic facility earns platinum rating" (CU-Boulder, May 30, 2012)
"CU-Boulder's basketball, volleyball practice building gets top green rating" (Daily Camera, May 30, 2012)

Center for Community

Construction Start: February 2009
Construction End: August 2010
Total Cost: $84.4 million
Gross Square Feet: 302,000

The Center for Community (C4C) is anchored by a 900-seat, market-style dining hall that offers freshly prepared food at nine specialty dining stations, serving nearly 4,000 meals per day and close to a million per year. The building's upper floors serve as home base for 12 student support offices, including Career Services, Center for Multicultural Affairs, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Office of International Education, and the Office of Victim Assistance. The building also contains a two-story underground parking garage.

The C4C is about 30% more energy and water efficient than modern, code-compliant buildings of the same size and function. It is certified LEED Platinum, the highest possible designation from the United States Green Building Council. Elements of the building that contribute to its efficiency include the use of LED lights, energy-saving kitchen appliances, solar reflective roof shingles, and low-flow water fixtures and faucet aerators. The building is cooled with an evaporative cooling system, which uses less energy than traditional mechanical systems. Solar panels on the roof produce enough power for 20 average-sized houses. More than 50% of the construction materials came from sources located no more than 500 miles away, while more than 75% of construction waste was recycled, diverting it from landfills.

"CU-Boulder's New Center for Community Building a One-Stop Shop for Student Services" (CU-Boulder, August 11, 2010)
"CU-Boulder unveils $84.4M student hub, 'Center for Community'" (Daily Camera, August 11, 2010)
"CU's Center for Community building earns LEED platinum rating" (CU-Boulder, April 27, 2012)

Institute of Behavioral Science

Construction Start: July 2009
Construction End: August 2010
Total Cost: $14 million
Gross Square Feet: 50,565

The Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) was formerly housed in eight small residential-style buildings within the Grandview terrace area and on two floors of a leased office building in downtown Boulder. This project consolidated the offices into a new building, located in the Grandview neighborhood just northwest of main campus.

The building earned Green Building Council's highest possible LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating: platinum. It is at least 30% more energy and water efficient than other recently built, code-compliant buildings. Sustainability features include rooftop solar panels capable of producing 14,000 kilowatts hours per year and a highly energy-efficient building envelope and heating and cooling system. Lighting, windows, lavatory fixtures and other details are all designed for maximum efficiency, while bicycle storage and changing rooms encourage alternative transportation. The construction process emphasized using recycled content and diverting waste from the landfill.