Colorado College Packard Hall

Preserving a modernist campus landmark while expanding opportunities for artistic and musical excellence.

Located at the heart of the Colorado College campus, Packard Hall serves as the home of the institution’s art and music departments and houses one of the region’s premier small concert venues. Originally designed in the early 1970s by renowned modernist architect Edward Larrabee Barnes, the building had remained largely unchanged for decades before undergoing a comprehensive expansion and renovation to support evolving academic and programmatic needs.

The project included an 11,000-square-foot addition and extensive renovations throughout the existing 56,000-square-foot facility. Careful attention was given to preserving the building’s architectural character while introducing modern amenities, enhanced accessibility, and expanded instructional spaces that better serve students, faculty, and performers.

The two-story addition provides seven office and studio spaces, three music classrooms, and a dedicated rehearsal studio. Additional improvements include a climate-controlled instrument storage room designed to support the college’s ethnomusicology program, along with various support spaces that enhance the functionality of the music department. A new lift was also installed to provide accessible access to the concert hall stage and green room.

Renovations within the existing building created new opportunities for both academic departments. The art program received expanded facilities, including a slide research library, reading room, and lounge space that support study, research, and collaboration. The project also introduced additional faculty offices and a shared administrative office serving both the art and music departments.

Accessibility improvements were a major component of the renovation. A new elevator was integrated into the existing four-story art tower, improving access throughout the building while facilitating the movement of artwork, supplies, and equipment.

The result is a thoughtfully modernized academic and performance facility that honors the legacy of a significant architectural landmark while providing enhanced spaces for creativity, instruction, research, and artistic expression.