CU capital projects look to be in good shape for state funding

Across CU, renovations of two existing buildings and construction of a new facility are positioned well to receive state funding following endorsements from the state’s Capital Development Committee.

The committee voted last week to forward its capital budget recommendations to the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), which will consider appropriations for capital projects across the state.

The three new CU projects included in the list of recommended items:

-    Renovation of the Ketchum Arts and Sciences Building at CU-Boulder. The $13.4 million project will replace aging infrastructure within the building to include the HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, a fire alarm system upgrade, as well as asbestos abatement. It also includes the addition of new air conditioning, building insulation, and window replacement for energy conservation.
-    Renovation of the Auraria Library, which serves all three institutions of the Auraria Campus but is operated by CU Denver. The $26.8 million renovation includes restroom expansion; new group study area, multipurpose rooms and office areas; protection of archives/special collections; new outdoor terrace with accessible handicap entry and renovated courtyards; new shelving systems; integrated library technology improvements and more.
-    New construction of the Visual and Performing Arts Building at UCCS. The facility will be located east of Nevada Avenue on the UCCS north campus. The $56 million first phase calls for 84,879 gross square feet of academic space for the Performing Arts; a second phase would include about 49,258 gsf of academic space for the Visual Arts at an estimated cost of $19 million.

Controlled maintenance at various buildings across the campuses also is included on the list.

In other recent action at the Legislature, House Bill 14-1256, dealing with higher education employment for librarians, was passed Wednesday by the House Education Committee.

Under current law, each system of higher education and each of its campuses may enter into an unlimited number of term employment contracts of up to three years for certain adjunct faculty. This CU-supported bill allows an institution to also enter into these types of employment contracts with librarians.