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Auraria Campus Celebrates the Completion and Approval of the Campus Framework Plan
Campus Announcements
Auraria Campus Celebrates the Completion and Approval of the Campus Framework Plan
Posted June 26th, 2024
Denver, CO – Auraria Campus celebrates the completion and approval of the new Campus Framework Plan, previously the Master Plan. The Framework Plan was approved during the Auraria Board of Directors meeting on June 26, 2024.
“It’s exciting to see the Auraria Campus Framework Plan finalized not only for the campus but the entire community. This plan highlights key elements of the Auraria Strategic Plan guiding the next chapters of evolution for Colorado’s largest urban campus,” said Tracy Huggins, Chair of the Auraria Board of Directors.
To develop this framework, the Auraria Campus leadership engaged extensively with staff, students, and the broader community, through over 80 engagement touchpoints, town halls, and public office hours. The process included robust conversations with the displaced communities, over 30 community meetings, and nearly 560 online survey responses, ensuring an inclusive campus framework that honors Auraria’s rich diversity and history.
The framework was a collaborative effort between Auraria Higher Education Center, Community College of Denver, University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Auraria communities and led by national planning consultant firm, Sasaki. The plan recommends a set of Big Ideas to anchor future developments while allowing flexibility. The six Big Ideas are:
1. Learning Loop Roadway System: Organize campus development around an educational core that is pedestrian-oriented and lower scale.
2. City Integration: Connect the campus with the surrounding city through gateway moments.
3. Higher Density Development: Evolve campus building layout towards higher density and verticality.
4. Public Realm Spaces: Design drought-tolerant and climate-appropriate public spaces that improve gathering and connection with the environment.
- For example, with support from the displaced Aurarian community, the designation of an Auraria Historic Corridor and spaces for healing and recognition of the history this land holds will be a reality.
5. Historical Connection: Promote projects that enhance the understanding and celebration of the campus’s history of displacement.
6. Collaborative Planning Process: Establish a transparent and inclusive planning process for future projects involving students, faculty, staff, and community members.
“We are deeply grateful for the valuable input from our communities that has allowed us to envision a future Auraria Campus we can all celebrate,” said Auraria Campus CEO, Colleen Walker. “The process of developing the framework plan has brought people together to create a vibrant academic neighborhood and cultivate transformational change to serve the campus and the larger Denver community.”
“On behalf of the Displaced Aurarians, we want to thank the AHEC and the leaders of the 3 constituent institutions for listening to and ultimately supporting our heartfelt requests,” said Virginia Castro. “Today, we begin a new chapter in the story of the Auraria campus. [The Campus] can truly begin to be the urban Campus it was meant to be, and we heard it would be.
And so, your approval of the resolution for the creation of the Historic Community Committee, with significant membership of Displaced Aurarians and community supporters, gives us great hope that the story will become part of the fabric of this Campus.
The homes along the corridor aren’t just the preservation of our original neighborhood. They are the homes and memories of our families and friends. We thank you for this momentous decision.”
For further information, please visit ahec.edu/auraria/2023-auraria-campus-master-plan or contact:
Devra Ashby
Director of Marketing and Communications
Auraria Higher Education Center
720-703-2577
Devra.Ashby@AHEC.edu
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About Auraria Campus
The Auraria Campus is a unique academic community located in downtown Denver, serving nearly 40,000 students, faculty, and staff from three separate and distinct institutions of higher learning: the Community College of Denver, the Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the University of Colorado Denver. The campus is committed to providing a collaborative and enriching educational environment that leverages the strengths of each institution and the vibrant urban setting of Denver.