ENR 2024 Mountain States Best Projects
Award of Merit, Small Project: University of Colorado Ofelia Miramontes and Leonard BACA Education Building
Photo courtesy Swinerton
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO OFELIA MIRAMONTES AND LEONARD BACA EDUCATION BUILDING
Boulder, Colo.
Award of Merit
Submitted by: Swinerton
OWNER University of Colorado Boulder
LEAD DESIGN FIRM Anderson Mason Dale Architects
GENERAL CONTRACTOR Swinerton
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER S.A. Miro
MEP ENGINEER Cator Ruma & Associates
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Integrity Electrical Systems
MECHANICAL/PLUMBING CONTRACTOR Braconier Mechanical & Plumbing Services
The CU School of Education’s programs are now housed in the same building thanks to this $9.7-million renovation effort. To improve access within the 64-year-old Fleming Building and strengthen the connection to the new tower and existing classroom wing, crews renovated the center portion of the structure across three floors.
This 36,872-sq-ft phased project updated classrooms, teaching labs, offices, conference spaces, restrooms, corridors and support spaces. The building also received all new exterior windows, a structural mezzanine and a new exterior entrance.
Low ceilings left little structural space for ductwork and electrical conduits, and IT piping and plumbing waste pipes were 40 ft from where they were shown on historical drawings. After the interior was demolished, the team laser-scanned the structure and worked with the MEP subcontractor to modify the MEP design to fit the structure’s actual conditions.
To transform the center of the building while keeping surrounding areas fully operational, the team demolished nearly 95% of the interior space and created safe interior walkways for students and staff.
