These two projects for Colorado Mountain College provide student services and athletic spaces at its Spring Valley Campus in Glenwood Springs. Design for the Alpine Ascent Center presented a challenge because it called for no cladding on the steel erection and glulam beams, which meant they would be visible in the final product even though they were among the first structural elements installed. 

The team used 3D modeling to ensure a seamless integration of the glulam and the steel. BIM was also used for the climbing and bouldering walls in the field house, integrating the boulder design into the model to ensure future access to the electrical runs behind the climbing walls. The field house project is nestled into the hillside on this mountain campus, requiring precise grading and the addition of soil. The team credits the designation of an owner’s representative who was part of the school faculty as a key factor in the team’s ability to follow through with decisions quickly.

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