At its new Spur campus in Denver, Colorado State University (CSU) will bring its expertise to the public by offering free educational experiences to visitors of all ages. Spur’s three buildings—Hydro, Terra, and Vida—will focus, respectively, on water, earth, and life.
The first of the three facilities, Vida (Spanish for “life”), highlights the connection between animal and human health. Designed by Clark & Enersen and built by JE Dunn, the three-story, 118,000-square-foot facility has the capacity to offer 7,500 equine-assisted services (EAS) sessions each year. These sessions comprise physical, occupational, and speed therapy; mental health counseling; adaptive horsemanship and therapeutic riding; and equine-facilitated learning. Vida, which opened to visitors in January, replaces a temporary site that had hosted about 1,500 therapy sessions a year.
“CSU Spur’s Vida building has the goal of educating young visitors about careers in health, and we were interested in offering collaborative spaces that leveraged CSU’s unique skills in equine veterinary care, while partnering with organizations like the Dumb Friends League to train students and provide veterinary care to families,” Jocelyn Hittle, assistant vice chancellor of CSU Spur, said in a statement.
As the first of the three CSU Spur buildings, Vida needed distinct but flexible spaces that could support the ever-changing programs. Clark & Enersen took a holistic approach to the design, providing architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, engineering, and construction administration services. This allowed for the integration of architecture, interiors, site design, and systems—particularly important for a facility that hosts so many different programs.
In addition to EAS activities, Vida supports equine medical and rehabilitation services, as well as a veterinary hospital that provides healthcare services to dogs and cats. Vida’s spaces encourage visitors to experience what it would be like to work as a veterinarian, veterinary technician, animal behavioral specialist, or wildlife biologist. To promote public viewing and participation, the design team kept sightlines and wayfinding top of mind, leading to an abundant use of glass.
Owner: Colorado State University, CSU Spur Campus
Owner’s representative: CAA ICON
Design architect: Clark & Enersen and INVISION
Architect of record, MEP engineer, and structural engineer: Clark & Enersen
Civil Engineer: Martin/Martin
General contractor/construction manager: JE Dunn
Related Stories
| Sep 13, 2010
Richmond living/learning complex targets LEED Silver
The 162,000-sf living/learning complex includes a residence hall with 122 units for 459 students with a study center on the ground level and communal and study spaces on each of the residential levels. The project is targeting LEED Silver.
| Sep 13, 2010
'A Model for the Entire Industry'
How a university and its Building Team forged a relationship with 'the toughest building authority in the country' to bring a replacement hospital in early and under budget.
| Sep 13, 2010
Committed to the Core
How a forward-looking city government, a growth-minded university, a developer with vision, and a determined Building Team are breathing life into downtown Phoenix.
| Aug 11, 2010
JE Dunn, Balfour Beatty among country's biggest institutional building contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 50 Institutional Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, Arup, AECOM top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 75 largest international design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 International Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Stimulus funding helps get NOAA project off the ground
The award-winning design for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) new Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) replacement laboratory saw its first sign of movement on Sept 15 with a groundbreaking ceremony held in La Jolla, Calif. The $102 million project is funded primarily by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), resulting in a rapidly advanced construction plan for the facility.
| Aug 11, 2010
JanCom Technologies expands headquarters
JanCom Technologies, Inc., an Austin, Texas-based technology, infrastructure, audio-visual, and critical power systems consulting and engineering services firm, continues to grow due to an influx of high-profile international projects. The company recently expanded to a 5,000-square-foot office space at 206 Wild Basin Road. The move represents a 2,000-square-foot increase in space to accommodate the company’s growth.
| Aug 11, 2010
Rouss & Robertson Halls
University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce
Charlottesville, Va.
Rouss Hall, a historic 24,000-sf building designed by Stanford White, served as the home of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce from 1955 to 1975. Thirty years later, the university unveiled plans to have the business school return to the small, outdated 110-year-old facility, but this time with the addition of a 132,000-sf companion building to be named Robertson Hall.
| Aug 11, 2010
Steel Joist Institute announces 2009 Design Awards
The Steel Joist Institute is now accepting entries for its 2009 Design Awards. The winning entries will be announced in November 2009 and the company with the winning project in each category will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship in its name to a school of its choice for an engineering student.
| Aug 11, 2010
Arup, SOM top BD+C's ranking of the country's largest mixed-use design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 Mixed-Use Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
