JE Dunn Construction has been at the forefront of a transformative project in Denver, Colorado, working on the Colorado State University (CSU) Spur Campus. This innovative satellite campus comprises three new buildings: Vida, Terra, and Hydro. Each building represents a unique focus within CSU’s broader mission, integrating cutting-edge facilities and sustainable technologies that promise to enhance education, research, and community outreach.
The Vida building, the first to be completed, is a notable partnership between CSU and the Denver Dumb Friends League, a nonprofit animal shelter. This facility includes an animal clinic offering subsidized or free healthcare for animals, an equestrian rehabilitation center providing sports medicine for horses, and the Temple Grandin Institute, which offers equine therapy for neurodivergent individuals. Temple Grandin, a renowned CSU professor and advocate for the ethical treatment of livestock, lends her name and expertise to the institute. The building also features living accommodations for graduate students and 4-H participants, creating a vibrant, immersive educational environment.
Next is the Terra building, which focuses on agricultural sciences. This facility includes a meat lab, a produce lab and a dairy lab, all aimed at advancing food science and production. It also houses a commercial kitchen available for rent by food entrepreneurs, allowing for the development and testing of new food products. Terra’s second floor boasts advanced soil labs, a greenhouse, and a rooftop garden, keeping sustainable agriculture and food innovation top of mind in the design.
The third building, Hydro, centers on water resources. Denver Water, the city’s water utility, relocated its testing lab to Hydro, where it now conducts all domestic water testing for the city. The building also features rentable laboratories, an auditorium for events and extensive office space dedicated to water legislation and quality initiatives. Hydro’s focus on water resources is critical, given Denver’s growing population and the increasing demands on its water supply.
The CSU Spur Campus is part of a broader redevelopment project associated with the National Western Stock Show, the largest stock show in the country and a significant event in Colorado’s agricultural calendar. The new campus and the stock show grounds are designed to be utilized year-round, not just during the annual two-week event. This redesign aims to create a continuous community engagement hub with educational exhibits, activities for children, and public access to the state-of-the-art facilities at the Spur Campus.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this project is its integration of sustainable technologies. A unique feature, referred to locally as the “poop loop,” involves intercepting the city’s wastewater pipes to capture heat energy. This process utilizes a heat exchange system to harness thermal energy from wastewater, which is then used to temper the water for the campus. This innovation not only provides a renewable energy source for heating the campus but also reduces the energy required by the wastewater treatment plant to cool the water before processing it back into potable water.
The project’s significance is deeply personal for many involved, particularly those with longstanding ties to CSU and Denver. JE Dunn Senior Project Manager Matt Aschermann, a third-generation Colorado native and CSU alumnus, felt a connection to the project given his family’s ties to the stock show. Many additional members of the JE Dunn project team are CSU construction management graduates. This deep-rooted connection underscores the project’s importance not just as a construction endeavor but as a vital piece of Colorado’s heritage and future.
This project not only enhances CSU’s capabilities but also strengthens community ties and promotes year-round engagement, setting a new standard for campus and community integration. In addition, it showcases JE Dunn’s commitment to innovative design and sustainable technology.