Colorado State University Biology Building

Hord Coplan Macht

Project of Distinction 2017 Education Design Showcase

Colorado State University Biology Building

Project Information

Facility Use: 4-year Institution
Project Type: New Construction
Category: Laboratories/Research Facilities
Location: Fort Collins, CO
District/Inst.: Colorado State University
Chief Administrator: Tracey Abel
Completion Date: August 2017
Gross Area: 134,500 sq. ft.
Area Per Student: 63 sq. ft.
Site Size: 2.21 acres
Current Enrollment: 1,550 Undergrad/115 Graduate
Capacity: 1,800 students
Cost per Student: $38,888
Cost per Sq. Ft.: $456
Total Cost: $58,000,000

The new $58 million Biology Building on the Colorado State University (CSU) campus is a four-story, 154,000-square-foot teaching and research facility designed by Hord Coplan Macht. The firm recently completed both the Biology Building and a $41 million Chemistry Building. The two LEED Gold-certified buildings are the anchors of the growing CSU Science Commons and are adjacent to the future Health Education Outreach Center, which is also currently being designed by the firm.

Colorado State University Biology BuildingThe biology building was designed to house the CSU Biology Department, including research labs, special collections used for teaching, faculty offices and idea space for collaboration. A large portion of the building is also dedicated to classrooms, teaching labs, student common spaces, advising and tutoring offices, and study rooms. The biology department is the largest in the College of Natural Sciences at CSU, with more than 1,400 undergraduate students studying in the Biological Science or Zoology majors. The project was completed by a design-build delivery method with Hord Coplan Macht as architect and Haselden Construction as general contractor.

The biology and chemistry structures were built in tandem, utilizing different delivery methods, allowing both projects to minimize costs and create a thoughtful, new, unified Science Commons. The evolving CSU Science Commons includes bike and pedestrian paths, outdoor seating areas, native plant landscaping and an integrated storm water recapture system.

The new biology building provides opportunities for hands-on laboratory work for undergraduate students, both in class and in working with faculty members on their research. The “science on display” design of the building allows a view into the labs from the hallways through glass panels.

“It’s designed to foster more interaction,” says Mike Antolin, professor and chair of the Department of Biology, “and it has the flexibility to be able to meet unanticipated future needs.”

The new Science Commons showcases CSU’s dedication to providing a state-of-the-art science education to their students. All three buildings focus on providing open and adaptable laboratories for researchers and their teams. All of the labs are daylit, where appropriate, with views to the outside making the spaces ideal for science exploration.

Colorado State University Biology Building Colorado State University Biology Building

Judges Comments

The display walls are the strength of this project. The use of terrazzo is a good choice for both appearance and longevity. Nice use of materials.

Architect(s):

Hord Coplan Macht
JENNIFER CORDES
303/607-0977

Featured

  • bar graph with the bars made out of abstract cinder blocks and other construction materials

    Spaces4Learning 2025 Trends in K–12: Materials & Construction

    With 2025 well underway, it’s time to take a look at some broader trends submitted by you, our Spaces4Learning readership. We asked for your thoughts on topics like classroom design, health & safety, materials & construction, and technology in both K–12 and higher-education environments. Below is a roundup of 2025 trends in K–12 materials and construction from the experts in the trenches.

  • New Campus Stadiums Evolve Beyond Sports into Community Assets

    New campus planning documents reveal an abundance of high interest in new stadiums, or renovations and repurposing projects for existing facilities. Many universities, in fact, are developing campus complexes with new stadiums as a draw for retail, hotels, and student housing. Multipurpose facilities with high-end features are being designed to attract large sports events of various types, concerts, and other university functions.

  • UT-Austin Breaks Ground on 17-Story Business School

    The University of Texas at Austin recently broke ground on a new, 17-story facility that will serve as the new home for the school’s McCombs School of Business, according to university news. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 10 for Mulva Hall, which will include amenities like classrooms, academic department suites, research centers, faculty offices, the dean’s office, and gathering spaces.

  • modern college building with circuit and brain motifs

    Anthropic Introduces Claude for Education

    Anthropic has launched a version of its Claude AI assistant tailored for higher education institutions. Claude for Education "gives academic institutions secure, reliable AI access for their entire community," the company said, to enable colleges and universities to develop and implement AI-enabled approaches across teaching, learning, and administration.