In the spring of 2006, the State of Colorado, acting on behalf of Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC), issued a request for qualifications to update the existing campus master plan and to identify public/private development partnership options on the campus.  Through this process, AHEC selected the studioINSITE and Sasaki Associates, Inc Team to develop the Master Plan Update.  StudioINSITE is a Denver based planning and design firm.  In addition to years of service to AHEC, studioINSITE is recognized for other Denver projects, such as: design of the 14th Street Initiative; design of the Broadway Triangle Park, and; master planning and design for Johnson & Wayles, Regis University, the University of Denver, and the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center at Fitzsimmons. Sasaki Associates brings a wealth of experience in programming, planning, and design of campus facilities to the team with experience at more than 400 institutions of higher learning across the United States and abroad.  Sasaki has worked with many of the major state university systems across the country, from New York, Massachusetts, Texas, Ohio, to Colorado, Utah, Washington and California.  To complement their services, U3 Ventures adds its expertise in the formation of real estate and community development involving colleges and universities and Otten Johnson Robinson Neff + Regonetti provides the team with the benefit of its comprehensive real estate-related legal services in the Denver marketplace.

As envisioned by the studioINSITE Team, this plan will address both the desires for growth at the campus to improve its functionality and aesthetics and to identify new means of addressing the institution's financial constraints through private/public ventures.  The planning process proposed by the team will rely heavily on interaction of the consultant team with administrators at AHEC, the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center as well as students and faculty from the three schools. It will go beyond this, though, to effectively engage city officials, members of the Denver and national development communities, and representatives of the Downtown Area Plan.  Thus, the development of this plan will address the aspirations and needs of AHEC by linking them to the growth opportunities of the City.

AHEC's master plan/private partnership planning process was officially launched at the start of the academic year with a visit from the studioINSITE and Sasaki Associates, Inc. Team.  The consultant team photographed the campus, observed how students and faculty use the open spaces and buildings, and interviewed administrators at AHEC, the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center as well as students and faculty from the three schools to learn of their interests in shaping the campus’ growth. 

The master plan was presented on campus in May, 2007.   Please see "Useful Links": AHEC Master Plan to view the presentation.

This plan established a vision of "Institutional Neighborhoods", to provide fpr a coherent campus with individual addresses and identities for the three schools, much like individual neighborhoods collectively belong to downtown Denver, but also have their own flavor and identity.

The plan also calls for a mixed-use district to be developed in the northeast corner of the campus, closest to downtown (LoDo) and currently without buildings.  In addition, the two campus nodes near the rail stations are both attractive locations for this investment.  Private development on campus could include: a hotel and conference facility; housing for faculty, staff, students and the general population; commercial and academic office space, and; retail.

In addition to discussing the establishment of these neighborhoods, the plan anticipates the type and amount of space needed on campus to accomodate predicted growth in student population at each school.  With this growth, the campus will need to enhance its pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile circulation--all issues discussed in the master plan report.  Finally, the plan provides an outline for AHEC to follow in ensuring that its growth incorporates campus concerns for environmental considerations in developing a sustainable campus.

The studioINSITE and Sasaki Associates, Inc. Team have presented the Master Plan to AHEC.  As a next step, each of the schools and the board will review and approve the plan.

January presentation of alternatives

November consideration of project goals, planning principles and site analysis

DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION STATEGY

AHEC MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION