CU Boulder breaks ground on chemistry and applied mathematics facility
CU Boulder recently began construction on its new chemistry and applied mathematics (CHAP) facility, a transformative project that marks a bold step forward in the university’s commitment to research excellence, sustainability and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Located on the southeast side of the Business School Field along Regent Drive, the CHAP building will span approximately 139,000 gross square feet. The facility will house the departments of Chemistry and Applied Mathematics, providing world-class facilities for two already highly regarded programs.
The CU Board of Regents approved the $175.43 million project in 2024.
Before construction began last month, the new CHAP building underwent a rigorous review by the University of Colorado’s Design Review Board (DRB). This critical process ensures the project meets the university’s standards for planning and design excellence. The DRB reviewed the CHAP building eight times between May 2023 and April 2025 at informal workshops and formal design approvals.
The DRB collaborates with campus architects and other campus professionals to provide expert guidance to project design teams, leading to thoughtful and lasting projects. The DRB is responsible for reviewing all site development and exterior architectural components of projects on CU campuses and remains actively engaged from the earliest stages of pre-design through the full design development process.
The board is composed of six members – three professional architects, a landscape architect, an architect or engineer with specialized expertise in sustainable building design, and a senior administrator or faculty from the CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning. Appointed by the university president, all members are selected for their distinguished professional credentials and deep knowledge of best practices in the built environment.
For a full list of DRB members, click here.
The board’s involvement in the CHAP building reflects CU’s strong commitment to excellence in design and sustainability, ensuring the new facility contributes positively to the campus’s architectural legacy.
Read more on the CHAP building in CU Boulder Today.