University of Colorado Denver Student Commons

Creating a landmark destination that strengthens campus identity, fosters community, and supports student success.

Since opening in 2014, the Student Commons Building has become a defining landmark for the University of Colorado Denver, helping establish a stronger institutional identity on the Auraria Campus while creating a vibrant center for student life. As CU Denver’s first ground-up building on the campus, the facility represents a significant investment in the university’s continued growth and commitment to student success.

Designed to serve a rapidly expanding student population, the building provides a central gathering place where students can connect, collaborate, and access campus resources. The facility includes larger classrooms, innovative teaching environments, centralized staff offices, and a variety of spaces that foster engagement, learning, and community building.

Constructing the facility within a dense urban campus required extensive planning and coordination to minimize disruptions to daily campus operations. Maintaining safe pedestrian circulation and preserving access for students, faculty, and visitors were key priorities throughout construction.

Complex site infrastructure improvements were also required, including the installation of utilities routed from surrounding city streets, some located as deep as 20 feet below grade. To accommodate construction activities while maintaining uninterrupted public transit service, the project team designed and constructed a temporary bus loop that rerouted RTD operations during a major phase of construction. This proactive approach ensured that buses operating on seven-minute intervals experienced no service interruptions.

The result is a highly visible campus centerpiece that enhances the student experience, strengthens CU Denver’s presence within downtown Denver, and serves as a lasting symbol of the university’s growth and future aspirations.

This project received LEED Gold Certification in 2014.