Haselden tops out projects on Colorado Mountain College Glenwood campus

Haselden Construction recently topped out two new buildings at Colorado Mountain College’s Spring Valley campus in Glenwood Springs. Haselden is building a 34,000-square-foot fitness center and the 16,000-sf Ascent Center, which will serve as the welcome center and entrance focal point for the campus.

The two new buildings, designed by Anderson Mason Dale Architects and being constructed to LEED Silver standards, will offer students, staff and community members flexible spaces for classrooms, meetings and lectures as well as a state-of-the-art fitness facility.

“Colorado Mountain College is undergoing a transformation of the Spring Valley campus infrastructure while staying true to its vision: to be the most inclusive and innovative student-centered college in the nation, elevating the economic, social, cultural and environmental vitality of our beautiful Roaring Fork Valley,” said Jenna Michieli, AIA, project architect for AMD.

“More than 50 years ago, a number of ranching families donated nearly 600 acres to form the campus, which sits on a picturesque site above the Roaring Fork Valley, with expansive views of Mount Sopris. Given the history of the site and the valley, we drew upon designs of traditional agrarian and ranching structures in the design of the Ascent Center. A folding and outstretching roof form gathers both program and outdoor space beneath it.” The Ascent Center will become the main entrance and welcome center for the Spring Valley campus.

“The new Ascent Center will function as a welcome center and “one-stop shop” for student services and admissions,” Michieli said. “It will include three new 30-seat classrooms, the campus store and coffee bar, as well as a student ‘living room’ and welcome plaza for the campus.”

Haselden Construction is completing construction of the two buildings while classes are in session. The company uses a proprietary “methods of procedure” communication tool to make sure Colorado Mountain College students, faculty and staff are aware of construction activity in advance to ensure the safety of those on campus.

Not only is the project being built while classes are in session, but also it’s been built during a snowy winter.

“It’s been a tough winter for construction; however, our diligence with temporary weather protection practices and working with top-notch trade partners has allowed us to maintain our current schedule,” said Justin Kovaleski, project manager for Haselden Construction.

The Ascent Center and fitness center are expected to open in summer and fall, respectively.

Published in the April 3-16, 2019, issue of CREJ.