The Auraria Campus is at the epicenter of a rapidly evolving downtown 丹佛. As development creeps upward all around the 150-acre campus, the Auraria Higher Education Center is advancing its own refreshed 校园总体规划 together with design firm Sasaki and a committee of campus stakeholders.
继续提供现代, 良好的工作和学习环境, AHEC has for months sought master plan input from students, employees and campus partners through outreach events, 调查, focus groups and two well-attended open houses on Jan. 25和26. Feedback has been integral to expanding but also refining the final 总体规划 document, 卡尔·米斯说, the director of Campus Planning for the Auraria Higher Education Center.
“It has been rewarding to meet with community members to discuss the future of our campus and what it can become米斯说. “So many people are connected to this place and value the opportunities the campus provides.”
Meese spoke with the Early Bird about community response to the plan, next steps and AHEC’s role in the future design of the Auraria Campus.
EB: What big questions and comments about the master plan are you hearing from campus community members?
Meese: One major theme is that the Auraria Campus is a special place where all are welcome to advance their lives through education, and that this must be reinforced in future development. 这包括有一个安全的校园, 专注于教育, 方便学生使用, 教职员工. 
Other important topics include having affordable and available parking options, 确保学生的成本保持在低水平, retaining a focus on learning and education missions, and telling the story of the land our campus sits on, from the original tribal nations to the subsequent forced removal of indigenous communities, and then from the first wave of immigrants settling Auraria to the displacement of the Aurarians during urban renewal, and finally to the creation of the Auraria Campus. We heard from many that representation from these communities is at the forefront in creating a welcoming environment that supports students throughout their educational journey.
Many participants also voiced support for:
- Expanded housing options (student/faculty/staff housing, 经济适用房, 以及混合住房选择)
- Increased connectivity through landscape initiatives
- 一个新的学习循环, organized street network that is easy to navigate whether you drive, 坐火车或公共汽车, 骑自行车还是步行
- Increased activity and exposure to academic programs
Many others are excited about campus visitors experiencing all the special activities Auraria offers, 喜欢戏剧, 音乐会, 艺术展览, 历史认识与会议.
EB: Have you noticed themes around campus improvements and transformation suggestions?
Meese: There is a consensus that the proposed retail, dining and activation efforts are exciting opportunities to transform the campus into a livelier place, 学生和员工可以在哪里吃饭, 玩, 和工作.
The feedback also stressed that the special identity and unique aspects of the campus that exist today must remain. This plan must allow for growth, while strengthening our unique ‘education for all’ identity.
EB: The next big milestone in this effort is a vote at AHEC’s April board meeting. What will that vote entail and, depending on the decision, what might be the next step?
Meese: As engagement activities are wrapping up, Sasaki and the 总体规划 Steering Committee will spend February and early March finalizing the 总体规划 document, 包括所有图像和支持文本. The goal is to present the final plan to the Auraria Board of Directors for a vote of approval in April.
一旦计划被采纳, any development projects proposed by one of the institutions will go through a new planning process where a committee comprised of representatives from each institution will review and discuss new project ideas. This committee will evaluate proposed buildings, 装修, and site improvement projects to ensure that each project will align with the 总体规划 concepts.
除了, this committee will identify any cross-institutional collaboration opportunities so that the campus can create more cohesive developments that allow for similar programs to be housed together in taller and more dense buildings.