Following CU’s acquisition of Independence Plaza, CU Denver is focused on the vision not only for the space along 16th Street, but for all of CU Denver’s physical footprint that will further the university’s role as the Denver metro area’s anchor higher education partner.
As part of this process, and as Chancellor Kenneth T. Christensen, PhD, shared in a Sept. 4 memo, the CU Denver Space Utilization Working Group has been formed to assess how our current spaces are being used and the space needs for each CU Denver school, college, and administrative unit.
Co-chaired by College of Architecture and Planning Dean David Rifkind and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Facilities Management and Planning Cary Weatherford, the working group’s goal is to identify ways to make better use of university resources and support long-term growth. The membership is now finalized, and the following campus community members are part of the working group:
- Adrian Ingram, Managing Director, Office of Advancement
- Beth Pugliano, Senior Instructor, Associate Chair, College of Arts & Media
- Carla Gutierrez Torres, Student Government President, CU Denver
- Chris Phiel, Associate Professor, Department Chair, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Hansen Millison, Senior Advisor, College of Arts & Media
- Jarrick Brown, Director, Student Life & Campus Community
- Jodi Shepherd, Director, Auraria Library
- Madhavi Tandon, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Education & Human Development
- Martin Dunn, Dean, College of Engineering, Design, and Computing
- Wendy Bolyard, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Public Affairs
A set of individuals from the CU Denver community are being invited to advise the working group in the areas of the Auraria Campus history, research and development, emergency management, budget and finance, and technology.
As CU Denver examines its physical footprint, the CU System office has been conducting a similar analysis and approached CU Denver about the possibility of relocating to Independence Plaza. Following those discussions, CU Denver and the CU System office agreed on the move, which will make the CU System office the building’s first new, rent-paying tenant. The relocation is expected in early 2027, and the CU System office’s current building at 1800 Grant St. will be listed for sale.
This decision will also allow CU System office to right size its space by moving away from its currently underutilized building and only occupy the space they need in Independence Plaza. In addition, system colleagues will have the opportunity to join CU Denver in being a part of the downtown Denver revitalization.
More information about Independence Plaza will be shared with the CU Denver community as it becomes available.