After Much Preliminary Study, Renovation of Historic University of Colorado Building Set to Begin8/15/2023 ![]() Work is expected to launch this fall on the $105.2 million comprehensive renovation of one of the University of Colorado’s most historic and well-utilized structures: the Hellems Arts & Sciences building on the Boulder campus. That three-story brick structure, built in 1921 is distinguished by the Tuscan Vernacular style unifying so many other buildings on the school’s campus. Designed by well-known architect Charles Klauder, the building saw the addition of both an east and west wing in 1938. For years the Hellems building has housed the departments of English, History, Linguistics, and Philosophy, meaning that at any given point it has been used by the vast majority of UC’s undergrads. For that reason, there is an undeniable emotional attachment to the structure. Glen Krutz, dean of CU Boulder’s arts and sciences department, remarked in a statement earlier this spring that the Hellems building is “physically and psychologically the hub of humanities instruction on our campus.” At least 40% of the funding for the project is coming from the State of Colorado, with the rest paid for by UC itself. Work will center on deferred maintenance needs, as well as modernizing the 95,000-square-foot structure. While the university has committed itself to preserving the building historically, new student learning and collaboration spaces will be built, along with an upgrading of a heating and cooling system. Work will also include making the structure Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. Preliminary work on the project began in 2021 and included a survey showing that students mostly wanted to see easy-to-find bathrooms, refreshed interiors, and inclusive study spaces as part of the renovation. At the same time, the survey indicated that students supported maintaining the historic feel of the Hellems building, which is also visually known for its red tile roof and decorative chimneys. Conceptual design and schematic design work on the project was completed last year, with construction documents finished by this spring. The Hellems upgrading project is expected to see completion in late 2025. By Garry Boulard
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Get stories like these right to your inbox.
|