At its new Spur campus in Denver, Colorado State University (CSU) will bring its expertise to the public by offering free educational experiences to visitors of all ages. Spur’s three buildings—Hydro, Terra, and Vida—will focus, respectively, on water, earth, and life.
The first of the three facilities, Vida (Spanish for “life”), highlights the connection between animal and human health. Designed by Clark & Enersen and built by JE Dunn, the three-story, 118,000-square-foot facility has the capacity to offer 7,500 equine-assisted services (EAS) sessions each year. These sessions comprise physical, occupational, and speed therapy; mental health counseling; adaptive horsemanship and therapeutic riding; and equine-facilitated learning. Vida, which opened to visitors in January, replaces a temporary site that had hosted about 1,500 therapy sessions a year.
![CSU Vida Facility](/sites/default/files/inline-images/CSU%20Vida_3.jpg)
“CSU Spur’s Vida building has the goal of educating young visitors about careers in health, and we were interested in offering collaborative spaces that leveraged CSU’s unique skills in equine veterinary care, while partnering with organizations like the Dumb Friends League to train students and provide veterinary care to families,” Jocelyn Hittle, assistant vice chancellor of CSU Spur, said in a statement.
As the first of the three CSU Spur buildings, Vida needed distinct but flexible spaces that could support the ever-changing programs. Clark & Enersen took a holistic approach to the design, providing architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, engineering, and construction administration services. This allowed for the integration of architecture, interiors, site design, and systems—particularly important for a facility that hosts so many different programs.
![Vida Horse](/sites/default/files/inline-images/CSU%20Vida_5.jpg)
In addition to EAS activities, Vida supports equine medical and rehabilitation services, as well as a veterinary hospital that provides healthcare services to dogs and cats. Vida’s spaces encourage visitors to experience what it would be like to work as a veterinarian, veterinary technician, animal behavioral specialist, or wildlife biologist. To promote public viewing and participation, the design team kept sightlines and wayfinding top of mind, leading to an abundant use of glass.
![Vida Procedure](/sites/default/files/inline-images/CSU%20Vida_6.jpg)
Owner: Colorado State University, CSU Spur Campus
Owner’s representative: CAA ICON
Design architect: Clark & Enersen and INVISION
Architect of record, MEP engineer, and structural engineer: Clark & Enersen
Civil Engineer: Martin/Martin
General contractor/construction manager: JE Dunn
Related Stories
University Buildings | May 19, 2015
Renovate or build new: How to resolve the eternal question
With capital budgets strained, renovation may be an increasingly attractive money-saving option for many college and universities.
University Buildings | May 19, 2015
KU Jayhawks take a gander at a P3 development
The P3 concept is getting a tryout at the University of Kansas, where state funding for construction has fallen from 20% of project costs to about 11% over the last 10 years.
University Buildings | May 5, 2015
Where the university students are (or will be)
SmithGroupJJR's Alexa Bush discusses changing demographics and the search for out-of-state students at public universities.
BIM and Information Technology | Apr 9, 2015
How one team solved a tricky daylighting problem with BIM/VDC tools, iterative design
SRG Partnership's Scott Mooney describes how Grasshopper, Diva, Rhino, and 3D printing were utilized to optimize a daylighting scheme at Oregon State University's new academic building.
Sponsored | University Buildings | Apr 8, 2015
Student Housing: The fight against mold starts in the bathroom
University Buildings | Apr 8, 2015
The competitive advantage of urban higher-ed institutions
In the coming years, urban colleges and universities will outperform their non-urban peers, bolstered by the 77 million Millennials who prefer to live in dense, diverse, and socially rich environments, writes SmithGroupJJR's Michael Johnson.
University Buildings | Mar 18, 2015
Academic incubators: Garage innovation meets higher education
Gensler's Jill Goebel and Christine Durman discuss the role of design in academic incubators, and why many universities are building them to foster student growth.
Retail Centers | Mar 10, 2015
Retrofit projects give dying malls new purpose
Approximately one-third of the country’s 1,200 enclosed malls are dead or dying. The good news is that a sizable portion of that building stock is being repurposed.
University Buildings | Feb 23, 2015
Future-proofing educational institutions: 5 trends to consider
In response to rapidly changing conditions in K-12 and higher education, institutions and school districts should consider these five trends to ensure a productive, educated future.
University Buildings | Feb 20, 2015
Penn strengthens campus security by reviving its surrounding neighborhood
In 1996, the University of Pennsylvania’s sprawling campus in Philadelphia was in the grip of an unprecedented crime wave. But instead of walling themselves off from their surrounding neighborhoods, the school decided to support the community.