Auraria Higher Education Center Campus Master Plan UpdateDenver, CO
The Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) in downtown Denver was founded in 1970 to serve the needs of three institutions by grouping them together (University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and the Community College of Denver). This grouping promotes social and academic synergy among the schools, saves money with shared facilities, and capitalizes on the adjacency of downtown Denver to generate jobs, research, and mutually beneficial intellectual capital. Each school has its own distinct identity but shares resources like the library, student center, and recreation facilities.
Sasaki’s master plan update builds on the idea of giving each of the institutions its own distinct quarter within AHEC providing each school an identifiable home within the campus. Simultaneously, the plan establishes a Campus Crossroads that strengthens the common mission and shared territory. This district is home to the library, student center, recreation facilities, and other common services and is the heart of AHEC.
To increase campus housing, a Campus Village is established adjacent to a new light-rail station. At the opposite end of campus, a new Urban District-a mix of student and market-rate housing, offices, research space, hotel rooms, cafés, and shops-is closest to the city’s central business district, strengthening the connection to downtown.
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