Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

New Student Center Open at Colorado State University-Pueblo

  • 02/05/18

CSU PuebloHord Coplan Macht (HCM) announces the opening and re-dedication of the Occhiato Student Center (OSC) on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo) in Pueblo, CO. The $34 million renovation and addition were completed by the design/build team of Hord Coplan Macht and Nunn Construction.

The project, constructed over three phases to keep the food services operable, includes a renovation and expansion to the original 109,000-square-foot facility built in 1974 to serve as the student center and dining hall. The 22,900-square-foot addition, which temporarily housed the university bookstore and student cafeteria during the renovation to assure service to students without interruptions, will feature a new ballroom and pre-event gathering space that will be unveiled in May.

The student center was designed as an open, dynamic, technologically modern facility with residential dining and retail functions, study lounges, and state-of-the-art conference rooms. The renovation separates the student-use areas from the public areas available for public and private events. The new design emphasizes various points of entry into the building, which were originally invisible to students and visitors; includes a large clerestory structure over the second floor opening to the main level to allow for abundant daylighting; and relocates student-oriented programs to the main level from the lower level to optimize visibility to students.

“Our team was honored to have had the opportunity to work with the CSU-Pueblo community on the transformation of the student center and to design a building that is focused on student-centric spaces and a first-class dining experience on campus,” says Gwen Gilley, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, principal, Hord Coplan Macht. “With these goals inspiring the design for the project, we strove to transform the student center into a place that is the heart—and essentially the living room—of the campus.”

In keeping with the university’s commitment to sustainability, the renovated building was constructed to a minimum of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Standard.

Featured

  • Montclair State University Debuts New VR Facility

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently announced the completion of a new virtual reality learning facility developed in partnership with Dreamscape Learn, according to a news release. The 2,450-square-foot lab space is inside the College of Communication and Media building and will serve students pursuing careers in digital media, virtual reality, and content creation.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • California High School Opens New Classroom Building for 7th-, 8th-Graders

    Santa Rosa City Schools in Santa Rosa, Calif., recently announced the completion of a new classroom building for Piner High School. As the campus transitions to a Junior/Senior High School, the facility will play home to the school’s new population of seventh- and eighth-grade students.