Auraria Campus Cooling Systems Shutdown Fall 2025 

Each winter into spring, on average, Denver’s risk of frost is from Oct. 1 through May 9. However, Denver usually receives frost from Oct. 14 through April 24.

Given this long window for potential frost and freezing temperatures, AHEC Facilities has to carefully plan the annual shut-down of cooling systems that have historically shown the potential to freeze and cause damage to buildings and other infrastructure.

This year, the shutdown process will begin the week of November 17 and will include the following cooling systems and buildings:

• North Chiller Plant
  • Library–North Chiller Plant
  • Arts–North Chiller Plant
  • Old Science–North Chiller Plant
• South Chiller Plant
  • Boulder Creek – South Chiller Plant
  • Cherry Creek – South Chiller Plant
  • West Class – South Chiller Plant
  • Central Class – South Chiller Plant
• Plaza
• PE/Events Center
• Rectory 

The process of draining and walking locations takes 1-3 days per system and afterward, these systems will be disabled for the season.

Denver’s weather can be unpredictable, and we will inevitably have warm days between October and May when these systems are disabled; some buildings and building spaces at AHEC will be warm. While this may result in some short-term discomfort, AHEC Facilities believes this is the most responsible approach to maintaining campus infrastructure through the cold winter months.