Colorado School of Mines Labriola Innovation Hub

Creating a hands-on learning environment where innovation, collaboration, and ideas come to life.

Saunders completed the Labriola Innovation Hub, a 35,000-square-foot facility designed to give students a dedicated space to innovate, prototype, collaborate, and develop the skills needed to become future industry leaders.

Created around the concept of “all under one roof,” the facility brings together a wide range of innovation-focused programs and resources within a single building. The Innovation Hub includes metal and wood shops, 3D printing areas, project spaces for student cornerstone initiatives, conference rooms, and collaborative learning environments that encourage interdisciplinary engagement and hands-on problem-solving.

Constructed as a pre-engineered metal building with conventional steel framing, the facility features several distinctive elements, including specialized dust collection systems, large glass viewing areas from conference rooms into active learning spaces, and a prominent foyer that creates an inviting entrance experience. The project also included a major interior and exterior renovation, as well as a 400-square-foot addition to an existing 10,000-square-foot truck shop.

Throughout the building, exposed structural and mechanical systems intentionally showcase the construction and engineering behind the facility itself. This design approach transforms the building into a teaching tool, inspiring curiosity and reinforcing the spirit of innovation that defines the Labriola Innovation Hub.

This project received multiple industry awards, including:

• 2024 Best Project Winner Award for Higher Education/Research from Engineering News-Record (ENR) Mountain States
• 2024 Project of the Year Finalist from ENR Mountain States
• LEED Gold Certification, 2024