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

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • Photo credit - Chuck Coates

    Florida District Modernizes Central Energy Plants at Two High Schools

    Flagler Schools, a public school district in Flagler County, Fla., recently partnered with Matern Professional Engineering to modernize the central energy plants at two of its high schools, according to a news release. The project is part of a larger, district-wide effort to reduce energy costs and operational expenses.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • California K–12 District Completes Elementary School Campus Replacement

    The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) in Richmond, Calif., recently announced the completion of a replacement campus for Lake Elementary School, according to a news release. The school has capacity for 470 students between Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and sixth grade.