Construction Begins on New Colorado State University Campus

By Lisa Kopochinski

DENVER—Construction has begun on a Colorado State University campus in Denver that is aimed to enable the public to explore and interact with educational content around water, food and health.

A recent groundbreaking ceremony for the $138.8 million project had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With a completion date slated for 2022, the new campus, called Spur, will bring the expertise of the three CSU System campuses—CSU in Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo and CSU Global. The campus will host families and tourists, K-12 student field trips, conferences and meetings,

in addition to researchers in state-of-the-art labs, college students pursuing degrees in fields related to agriculture and sustainability, and local artists creating spaces in onsite studios.

“The space will convene research experts from around the world related to water, food, sustainability, and human and animal health,” said Jocelyn Hittle, director of Denver programing for the CSU System, in a statement.

“It will not only be a place, but also a network—a launching point for collaboration across disciplines and sectors aimed at addressing global changes.”

The first of the three buildings to be completed will be named Vida and will focus on animal and human health. It will show the second location of CSU’s Temple Grandin Equine Center, which provides equine-assisted activities and therapies to humans.

The center will also partner with the Dumb Friends League to offer a donor-subsidized clinic for companion animals while providing hands-on education for CSU veterinary students.

Clark Enersen Partners was selected as the architect for this impressive project. JE Dunn is the general contractor.