Published: March 20, 2019
Artist rendering of business-engineering expansion

Construction is slated to begin over spring break on a new building addition that will physically connect CU Boulder’s Koelbel Building, home of the Leeds School of Business, to the Engineering Center, which houses the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Slated for completion by the end of 2020, the project includes the renovation of roughly 29,000 gross square feet (GSF) of existing space and construction of 45,000 GSF of new space.

A new innovation and entrepreneurship hub will provide space for students from any discipline to collaborate with business and engineering students, faculty and local business leaders. Other major features of the project include four technologically enabled, active-learning classrooms to foster collaborative teamwork and experiential learning, a 200-seat auditorium and a reorganization of the William M. White business library that enhances services and provides more efficient student study space.

Initial construction work will include utilities and other site work, with work on the buildings and addition to ramp up following the spring semester.

Construction impacts of the project will include:

  • Construction site fencing will begin going up over spring break (map image of the site).
  • Engebretson Quad, on the west side of the Koelbel Building, will be used for construction staging.
  • The pathway between the Koelbel Building and Engineering Center will close for the duration of the project. Pedestrians will be re-routed to the north through the Engineering Center complex, as well as to the south around the Business Field and Koelbel Building.
  • A temporary ADA-compliant pathway will be installed on the south side of the Koelbel Building. ADA access will remain at both the south and southwest entrances.
  • The two northwest entrances to the Koelbel Building will close, and the northeast entrance will be designated as an emergency-only exit.
  • Bike racks at the north end of the Koelbel Building and at the southwest corner of the Engineering Center will be relocated over spring break. Bikes must be removed by the end of the day Sunday, March 24, or be subject to impound. Impounded bikes can be retrieved free of charge from East Campus by contacting the Environmental Center Bicycle Program at 303-735-BIKE or bicycle@colorado.edu.
  • Construction work hours will be 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with crews generally off-site by 5 p.m.
  • Construction noise at times could impact nearby building users.
  • Following the spring semester, the Engineering Center Computer Science wing will close, re-opening in spring 2020.
  • Also following the spring semester, the first and second levels of the business library will close for the duration of the project.

Visit the business-engineering expansion Cone Zone page for ongoing construction updates.