The University Technical Assistance Program (UTAP) at CU Denver stands as one of the few university-led design centers in the U.S. that offers dedicated support to rural communities. Through its ongoing partnership with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), UTAP connects towns across the state with technical experience and design support and provides them with resources to bring important public projects to life. UTAP offers students internship opportunities that give them hands-on, real-world experience serving on project teams, where they work together to create and present project proposals to fit the needs of their community clients.
What is the University Technical Assistance Program?
Established in the 1960s, UTAP, previously known as the Colorado Center for Community Development (CCCD), is one of only a few remaining university-run design centers in the United States that connects rural communities to provide technical skills and funding assistance to bring community project dreams to life. UTAP contributes to the community by providing resources and assistance to help rural community develop public improvement project proposals.
UTAP operates under the guidance of experienced professionals representing key disciplines within the built environment. Northeastern Regional Field Supervisor Jennifer Kovarik, an urban planner and landscape architect; Western Slope Field Supervisor Christopher Endreson, an architect; and Southeastern Regional Field Supervisor Jeffrey Wood, also an architect, provide technical expertise and mentorship to student design teams and engage with DOLA and their community partners. Through this structure, interns engage in applied learning that bridges their coursework with practical, community-based projects, fostering professional competencies essential for their future careers in architecture, urban and regional planning, landscape architecture, urban design, and/or historic preservation.
Are you looking to get in touch with our UTAP team? Visit the UTAP website to learn more.
Community-Based Design Across Colorado Regions
UTAP projects range from recreational spaces to essential public facilities, showcasing the program’s interdisciplinary approach to design. Student teams collaborate to apply classroom principles to real-world challenges, building skills that strengthen career readiness. They evaluate community access and use, recommend architectural styles that honor local history and future growth, and explore strategies to encourage engagement with public spaces. They also assess infrastructure, landmarks, and points of pride affirming UTAP’s commitment to Colorado communities.
Mariana Morales, Master of Architecture student and UTAP research assistant, provided support on the East Team’s project in Akron, CO. “UTAP provided me with the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to real-world projects and help communities envision and plan for meaningful change.”
“As an Architecture Intern on the Akron Town Hall adaptive reuse project, I developed floor plan explorations to reconfigure the existing building to meet current programmatic needs, improve usability, establish secure entry points, and create a comfortable workplace for town employees,” said Morales. “I also contributed to facade improvement concepts, exploring window reconfigurations and material palettes to reinforce transparency, accessibility, and a welcoming interface for the community, enhancing both public engagement and operational efficiency. The process was grounded in collaborative, iterative work between UTAP and community representatives that helped us better understand local needs, values, and challenges. Through this experience, UTAP members cultivate a mindset of curiosity and ongoing learning, with each project presenting unique opportunities to grow.”
Three recent projects highlight this impact: Jackson County Park, Hugo Fire Department, and Green Mountain Falls Community Center.
Jackson County Lions Park in Walden, CO
Supervisor: Jennifer Kovarik
UTAP partnered with Jackson County and the Town of Walden to create a master plan that celebrates the community and ecological heritage of the region to inform the placement of site amenities and improve connectivity between the North Park Nature Area and Walden. The plan emphasizes universal design, habitat restoration, passive recreation, and educational opportunities, transforming Lions Park into a welcoming destination that enriches both the environment and community experience.
The UTAP design team, led by Kovarik, consisted of architecture students Rachel Randolph and Nick Berg and landscape architecture students Daniel Schumacher, Allie Schima, and Steven Pearlman. The design vision reinforces the park as a riparian corridor for flora and fauna, while creating inclusive spaces for visitors to stop and stay awhile.
“For the Lions Park project, my primary role focused on the architectural elements,” said Rachel Randolph. “This experience allowed me to apply design thinking and project documentation skills in a real community context while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team and community members,” said Rachel Randolph.
Proposed features include trails named after local wildlife, gateway pillars, benches, and naturalistic sculptures. Key landscape element includes The Braille Trail, which provides a tactile experience for visually impaired visitors through life-sized bird models and multilingual plaques written in English, Spanish, and Braille, and a pier and bird blind. Architectural recommendations included the incorporation of the landmark Union Pacific Caboose and an updated welcome kiosk remodeled for safety and efficiency. A bird blind design and wayfinding signage for trails, parking, and an entry sign were also proposed to add additional uses to the site.
Looking ahead, Kovarik shared, “The Park Master Plan includes an implementation strategy to guide the Lions Club in allocating current funds for initial improvements, and provides Jackson County with a framework for securing additional project phases.”
Hugo Volunteer Fire Station in Hugo, CO
Supervisor: Christopher Endreson
In partnership with Hugo, Colorado, UTAP was tasked with designing a new fire station that will allow for the expansion of the fire department’s fleet to extend their protection radius ensuring faster response times and improved safety for residents. To support the project, UTAP developed space programming, conceptual design, schematic layouts, and renderings for the new station. By addressing functional requirements such as site planning, parking configuration, and future expansion, UTAP designed a fire station to strengthen Hugo’s emergency services infrastructure.
Once a stagecoach stop and railroad hub, Hugo evolved from cattle ranching to a diversified economy that includes healthcare, education, and energy development. Today, the town continues to value community and resilience, and the new fire station embodies those principles. The architectural design for the fire station provides a design complimentary of existing buildings in the area, a community gathering space, and a structure that fosters public safety.
The design team, led by Christopher Enderson, included architecture students Lydia Prather and Valentina Cartagena, dual architecture and landscape architecture student Bailey Vianello, and landscape architecture student Katherine Brezinski. Together they explored different design solutions and addressed client feedback as they took an iterative and collaborative approach to find the best solution to meet the needs for the Huge Fire Station.
The final proposed site plan included a “Welcome to Hugo” sign, greeting visitors upon entry, a gravel parking lot, a memorial site honoring fallen fire fighters and town soldiers, a paved lot for fire trucks and a separate lot for uninterrupted traffic circulation. The material proposed for the facades included a range of durable and visually distinct materials corrugated metal, brick, and painted accents and fiberglass, all showcasing colors that pay homage to firefighting while adding modern vibrancy.
“The students really had to understand the ‘brass tacks’ of this project,” said Enderson. “Though there was a desire to go all out on the design by the client, budget drove this project from day one. Collaboration with the fire staff was critical in outlining the overall design to include the necessary programming. The students listened to those requests fantastically and intently. Because the need for this project was so high for the community, we worked closely with the local team to mold and adjust the design so it could move directly from concept to grant application and the next steps beyond.”
Green Mountain Falls Community Pool and Park in Green Mountain Falls, CO
Supervisor: Jeffrey Wood
Located just west of Colorado Springs, Green Mountain Falls is a vibrant community celebrated for its arts, creativity, and outdoor spirit. At its center lies a nearly 100-year-old swimming pool, a landmark in need of modernization and a stronger connection to the adjacent park. UTAP partnered with local leaders to reimagine the space as a dynamic hub for recreation and community life.
Over several months, UTAP interns collaborated with residents to develop concepts that blend functionality with fun. The design team, led by Jeffrey Wood, consisted of architecture interns Abe Martin, Sophia Ostendorf, and Hunter Wahlgren; landscape architecture interns Jessica Duarte, Paloma Fernandez, and Phil Runnings; and landscape architecture and urban and regional planning intern Ren Golembieski. The vision expanded beyond the pool house to include the park, transforming the facility from a utilitarian structure into a welcoming venue for social gatherings, exercise, and events.
Ideas were explored over several months that focused on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment that leverages the natural beauty of the creek for play and ensures the pool area serves as a resource for events, gatherings, and recreation.
Community engagements led to big ideas. To engage the community, the team presented the designs through multiple iterations, including public meetings and forums with the local community, a vendor booth at Green Mountain Falls’ annual Bronc Day, and a gallery-style exhibit at the Green Box Festival, a perfect to match the town’s artistic values.
“During an evening concert in Green Mountain Falls—an event designed to spotlight the town’s vibrant arts scene and local galleries—the UTAP students became something of modern-day pied pipers,” said Wood. “Carrying cleverly illuminated signs through the crowd, they guided concertgoers toward the UTAP exhibition set up in a nearby space. Their efforts worked beautifully. Within minutes, the exhibition was packed to standing-room-only, filled with residents eager to ask questions, explore the concepts, and engage with the students, who enthusiastically shared and celebrated their ideas.”
Following the engagements, the student interns proposed a final design included a pool building, splash pad, jacuzzi, all-season restrooms, an ADA play area, deep resistant planting designs, creek access, a playground, outdoor picnic and gathering spaces, a dog park, and quiet lawn games and a sensory garden.
Connecting with UTAP
All UTAP’s project begin with the Department of Local Affairs. With a project in mind, communities first reach out to their DOLA manager, who will then connect them with UTAP. Working with DOLA, UTAP crafts a detailed agreement defining their role, town’s needs and goals, the project’s trajectory from schematics. Once initiated, UTAP gets to work, pulling out their sketch pads and looking for inspiration provided by the rich tableau of Colorado’s landscape and rural traditions.