University of Colorado at Boulder officials are making a funding plea to wrap up renovation work on one of the school’s oldest structures.
Built in 1921, the Hellems Arts & Sciences Building was designed by the renowned architect Charles Klauder and is the first structure on the Boulder campus to be designed in what is known as the Tuscan Vernacular style.
An east and a west wing were added to the 90,000 square foot building in 1938.
Because of the variety of disciplines taught within the building, up to 80% of all CU Boulder freshmen end up taking at least one class in the structure.
Plans call for an extensive interior renovation of the Hellems, as well as the building of an open atrium at the building’s central entrance.
Work will also include making the structure Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.
State funding has already been secured for the first two phases of the Hellems renovation. School officials have now gone before the state legislature’s Capital Development Committee to make a pitch for the third phase funding.
It is expected that the final phase will cost around $42 million to complete. Of that figure, it is hoped that just over $17.1 will be provided by the state, with CU Boulder paying the rest.
If that state funding is secured, the actual renovation work is set to launch next summer, with a spring 2026 completion date.
By Garry Boulard
