The Chemistry and Applied Mathematics Building
Design of the Chemistry and Applied Mathematics Building will hold diversity, inclusion and equity as central themes. All are welcome. All are respected.
But before we can begin to design an inclusive, welcoming building, we have to acknowledge the history of the land that will house this structure. The Chemistry and Applied Mathematics building will reside on the traditional homelands of Indigenous peoples—land from which they were forcibly removed. We are only able to gather, build and learn because of the spiritual, physical and emotional colonial violence leveled against Indigenous people, including their forced removal from this plot of land. This history is of critical importance to the project, and the design will strive to acknowledge it and respectfully pay homage to those who were here before us.
University of Colorado Boulder Land Acknowledgment
The University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado’s flagship university, honors and recognizes the many contributions of Indigenous peoples in our state. CU Boulder acknowledges that it is located on the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute and many other Native American nations. Their forced removal from these territories has caused devastating and lasting impacts. While the University of Colorado Boulder can never undo or rectify the devastation wrought on Indigenous peoples, we commit to improving and enhancing engagement with Indigenous peoples and issues locally and globally.
We will do this by:
- Recognizing and amplifying the voices of Indigenous CU Boulder students, staff and faculty and their work.
- Educating, conducting research, supporting student success and integrating Indigenous knowledge.
- Consulting, engaging and working collaboratively with tribal nations to enhance our ability to provide access and culturally sensitive support and to recruit, retain and graduate Native American students in a climate that is inclusive and respectful.
Quick facts
New building for the Departments of Chemistry and Applied Mathematics.
Building will be located along Regent Drive, across from the CU Events Center.
Construction is planned to begin Q3/Q4 2024.
Our objectives
- Inclusive design and inclusive construction built with justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity (JEDI) practices.
- High-sensitivity optics labs.
- Synthetic chemistry space.
- Collaborative research hub.
- Theoretical lab space.
- A building designed to facilitate student opportunities to conduct and participate in research.
- Research on display.
- Next level research spaces.
- Collaborative layouts to spawn innovation.
The CHAP building follows recommedations from CU Boulder's Campus Master Plan.
The building will sit adjacent to a stunning quadrangle and anchor a new research and academic neighborhood on main campus.
Sustainability goals
- LEED Gold
- Water use
- Energy use
- Recycled materials
- IAQ
- i2SL design considerations
- Material selections
- Carbon sequestration
- Carbon tracking
- Best practices from Well Building Standards
When will this happen?
- Design is underway.
- Construction is anticipated to start Q3/Q4 2024.
- Construction duration is estimated at about two years.