Lighting Replacement – Project c
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Upgrade all interior and some exterior lights to LED in the following:
7th St Classroom, 7th St Garage, Arts Building, Cherry Creek, Administration Building, Central Classroom, Facilities Annex, Facilities Management, King Center, Library and Media Center, North Classroom, PE/Event Center, Rectory, Science Building, South Chiller Plant, St. Cajetan Center, Tivoli Student Union, West Classroom
Auraria Campus is upgrading more than 35,000 light fixtures across 2.2 million square feet of space as part of a major sustainability project. This is one of the largest energy-efficiency improvements on campus and will impact nearly every building.
Why this matters:
- Brighter, better lighting: The new LEDs provide more consistent, comfortable, and higher-quality lighting than our current fluorescent fixtures.
- Energy savings: These upgrades will save about $340,000 each year in energy and maintenance costs and cut 1,500 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually.
- Sustainability goals: This project helps the campus meet new City of Denver and State of Colorado energy-efficiency requirements and supports Auraria’s commitment to reducing emissions.
What to expect:
- Some spaces may feel brighter at first, but lights will settle in as they “burn in.”
- The new fixtures are designed to reduce flicker, eliminate harmful UV, and improve comfort—better for studying, teaching, and working.
- All fixtures will match in color (a warm 3500K) for a more consistent look across campus.
Bottom line:
This project makes our campus greener, more comfortable, and more cost-efficient—while helping Denver and Colorado reach important climate goals.
Project Impacts & Updates
April 7, 2026: As part of the Auraria Energy Performance Contract, lighting within the Tivoli Student Union will be upgraded from existing fluorescent fixtures to new LED fixtures.
Work will occur over the next month from 5:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. within suites and common areas throughout the building. This work includes removal and replacement of existing light fixtures.
During installation, the contractor will cover equipment and furniture with plastic, utilize ladders and lifts to access fixtures, and perform cleaning (vacuuming and dusting) upon completion in each area.
Project Overview
| Anticipated construction start | March 2025 |
| Anticipated construction end | September 2026 |
| Budget | $7.6 million |
| Funding source | Energy Performance Contract and State Capital Renewal Funds |
| Architect/ Engineer | RMH |
| Contractor | Iconergy |