Business Engineering Expansion

exterior of the leeds - engineering expansion

Project Overview

Construction start date:March 2019
Move-in:December 2020
Approved budget:$45 million
Gross square-footage:

~45,000 additional

~29,000 renovated

About the Project

The Business-Engineering expansion will physically connect CU Boulder’s Koelbel Building, home to the Leeds School of Business, to the Engineering Center, which houses the College of Engineering and Applied Science, providing creative, sparking new ways to think about higher education. A new innovation and entrepreneurship hub will provide space for students from any discipline to collaborate with business and engineering students, faculty and local business leaders. Other major features of the project include four technologically enabled, active-learning classrooms to foster collaborative teamwork and experiential learning, a 200-seat auditorium, and a reorganization of the William M. White business library that enhances services and provides more efficient student study space.

Leeds School of Business
project website

Project Updates

January 2021:

Connecting business and engineering, Rustandy Building officially opens

October 2020:

The University of Colorado Business and Engineering project is coming along nicely and will be completed near the end of the year. The two new air handler units are going to start up and later this month.  That will kick off our commissioning process that verifies that everything is operating and functioning correctly. The new Engineering Auditorium will be a great space for the University. We just installed the carpeting at the tiered seating levels and installed the fixed tables in this area. In the Business school the woodwork is starting at the Innovation Hub seating area that connects to the new Business school Café. On the exterior of the project the landscaping is in progress and the west Engelbretson’s Quad will have sod replaced in the upcoming weeks.

March 2020:

Engineering Level 1B

  • Install tables
  • East drywall patch back
  • Furniture setup

Engineering Level 1

  • Ceiling grid
  • Vents/diffusers
  • Floor prep Engineering

Roof/Auditorium

  • Fire proofing
  • Install precast cladding
  • Wall framing
  • Parapet backing

Business Level 1

  • Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) trim out
  • MIllwork
  • Flooring

Business Level 2

  • Ceiling grid
  • MEP trim out

Business Level 4

  • Begin structural steel

North Expansion

  • East weather barrier
  • West windows install
  • MEP OH 2nd and 3rd floors
  • Priority walls 4th floor

West Expansion

  • Drywall
  • Tape and finish
  • Paint
  • Set air handler
  • Complete structure at air handler

February 2020:

Engineering Level 1B

  • Install tables
  • East drywall patch back
  • Furniture setup

Engineering Level 1

  • Ceiling grid
  • Vents/Diffusers
  • Floor prep

Engineering Roof/Auditorium

  • Fire proofing
  • Install precast cladding
  • Wall framing
  • Parapet backing 

Business Level 1

  • Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) trimout
  • Millwork
  • Flooring

Business Level 2

  • Ceiling grid
  • MEP trim out

Business Level 4

  • Begin structural steel 

North Expansion

  • East weather barrier
  • West windows install
  • MEP OH 2nd & 3rd Floors
  • Priority Walls 4th Floor

West Expansion

  • Drywall
  • Tape and finish
  • Paint
  • Set air handler
  • Complete structure at air handler

January 14, 2020:

The Business and Engineering Project recently completed structural steel erection and is now working on building envelope systems and interior constriction. Interior renovations in of both Business and Engineering are well under way. The project is working to open the fully renovated business library along with 3 new 90 seat classrooms for fall semester 2020. The remainder of the project will turn over in December 2020.

January 2020:

Engineering Level 1B:

  • Flooring Install 
  • Punchlist 
  • Owner move-in west 

Engineering Level 1:

  • Drywall
  • Tape and finish 
  • Paint 

Engineering Roof/Auditorium:

  • Complete structural steel 
  • Pour floor slabs 
  • Scaffolding/temporary protection 
  • Fireproofing 

Business Level 1:

  • Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) trimout 
  • Millwork 
  • Flooring 

Business Level 2:

  • Ceiling grid 
  • MEP trim out 

Business Level 4:

  • Structural demolition 
  • Preparation for steel 

North Expansion:

  • Complete fire proofing 
  • Weather barrier 
  • Window installation

West Expansion:

  • Frame walls 
  • MEP wall rough

December 2019:

Engineering Level 1B:

  • Doors and hardware
  • Final paint 
  • Grid and ceiling tile patch as needed 

Engineering Level 1:

  • Wall framing and inspections 
  • Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) wall rough-in and inspections 
  • Overhead MEP installation 
  • Pulling wire 
  • Brace frame columns 
  • Drywall 
  • Tape and finish 

Engineering Roof/Auditorium:

  • Layout for new structural steel 
  • Snow removal 
  • Remove roofing for new structural steel 
  • Temporary roof patching 
  • Demo of concrete window hoods for new structural steel 

Business Level 1:

  • MEP trimout 
  • Millwork 
  • Flooring 

Business Level 2:

  • Ceiling grid 
  • MEP trimout 

Business Level 4:

  • Structural demolition 

North Expansion:

  • Provide temp weather protection with plastic on building 
  • Install temporary hydronic heat 
  • Interior fireproofing 
  • Complete east exterior framing 
  • Sheath exterior skin east and west

West Expansion:

  • Fireproof structural steel 
  • Priority walls 
  • Underdrain system 
  • Overhead mechanical

November 2019:

Engineering Level 1B:

  • Doors and hardware
  • Wall and ceiling mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) trim
  • Prime and paint
  • Grid and ceiling tile
  • Brace frame columns 

Engineering Level 1:

  • Wall framing and inspections
  • MEP wall rough-in and inspections
  • Overhead MEP installation
  • Begin pulling wire
  • Brace frame columns 

Engineering Roof/Auditorium:

  • Layout for new structural steel
  • Remove roofing for new structural steel
  • Demo of concrete window hoods

Business Level 1:

  • Drywall hard lids
  • Tap/finish hard lids and prime/paint
  • Complete ceiling grid
  • Begin MEP trim out 

Business Level 2:

  • Prime and paint first coat
  • Frame soffit and hard lids
  • Ceiling grid 

Business Level 4:

  • Pre-planning for demolition 

North Expansion:

  • Provide temp weather protection with plastic on building
  • Install temporary hydronic heat
  • Interior fireproofing
  • Install clips and framing for exterior skin
  • Sheath exterior skin west 

West Expansion:

  • Install structural steel
  • Pour slab on metal deck
  • Fireproof structural steel 

October 2019:

Engineering Level 1B:

  • Doors and hardware
  • Wall mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) trim
  • Prime and paint
  • Grid and ceiling tile
  • Brace frame columns

Engineering Level 1:

  • Install new brace frames
  • Remove walls required for new brace frame connection details
  • Re-build walls

Engineering Roof/Auditorium:

  • Layout for new structural steel
  • Remove roofing for new structural steel

Business Level 1:

  • Drywall hard lids
  • Install ceiling grid
  • Install/adjust fire sprinkler system
  • Tape and finish drywall
  • Prime and paint first coat
  • Coffee bar install

Business Level 2:

  • In-wall MEP inspections 
  • Backing
  • Drywall
  • Tape and finish drywall
  • Prime and paint first coat

Business Level 4:

  • Pre-planning for demolition

North Expansion:

  • Install penetrations and hanger on decks for electrical, plumbing and ductwork
  • Pour floor decks
  • Exterior fireproofing
  • Layout and clips for exterior fireproofing

West Expansion:

  • Complete underground drainage systems
  • Grade and install gravel on slab
  • Install underground electrical boxes
  • Pour slab on grade
  • Begin structural steel columns and beams

September 2019:

Engineering Level 1B:

  • Metal stud framing
  • In-wall mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP)
  • Overhead MEP
  • Drywall and finish
  • Brace frame columns

Engineering Level 1:

  • Install new brace frames

Business Level 1:

  • Frame hard lids
  • Backing
  • Drywall and insulation
  • Tape and finish
  • In-wall MEP
  • Overhead MEP
  • MEP insulation
  • Coffee bar MEP rough-in

Business Level 2:

  • Framing walls
  • In-wall MEP
  • Overhead MEP
  • MEP insulation

Business Level 3:

  • Level 3 ceiling/carper/base demolition
  • Crack filler abatement

Business Level 4:

  • Framing demolition
  • Protection of existing finishes

North Expansion:

  • Placement of structural columns and beams
  • Floor decking
  • Structural detailing
  • Safety handrail

West Expansion:

  • Blindside waterproofing
  • Pier caps
  • Shotcrete foundation wall

July 10, 2019:

Engineering Level 1B:

  • Micro piles or ongoing at both sides of the floor
  • Sawcut concrete, demo, excavate for pier capsat both halves of the floor
  • Rebar and concrete work to start later in the month

Business Level 1:

  • Demo of walls, ceilings, fixtures and all mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) as required
  • MEP and wall layout

Business Level 2:

  • Demo of walls, ceilings, fixtures and MEP as required

North expansion:

  • Grade beams
  • Elevator slab
  • Cross brace mat slabs

West expansion:

  • Demo of bridge
  • Lag and beam
  • Excavating for building
  • Relocate fiber lines 

June 24, 2019:

Construction is underway including the following:

  • Site utility and building foundations
  • Interior abatement and demolition in Koelbel north end and library.
  • Interior abatement, demolition, and structural modifications to support the auditorium / new second floor in the Engineering Center.

March 19, 2019:

It is almost time for construction to begin! Construction fencing will go up over spring break, the week of March 25. Pedestrian detours will be put in place at that time. Initial construction work will include utilities and other site work, with work on the buildings and addition to ramp up after the spring semester.

  • Engebretson Quad, on the west side of the Koelbel Building, will be used for construction staging.
  • The pathway between the Koelbel Building and Engineering Center will be closed for the duration of the project. Pedestrians will be re-routed to the north through the Engineering Center Complex, as well as to the south around the Business Field and Koelbel Building. 
  • A temporary ADA-compliant pathway will be installed on the south side of the Koelbel Building. ADA access will remain at both the south and southwest entrances.
  • The two northwest entrances to the Koelbel Building will be closed for the duration of the project, and the northeast entrance will be designated as an emergency-only exit.
  • Bike racks at the north end of the Koelbel Building and at the southwest corner of the Engineering Center will be relocated over spring break. Bikes must be removed by the end of the day Sunday, March 24 or be subject to impound. Impounded bikes can be retrieved free of charge from East Campus by contacting the Environmental Center Bicycle Program at 303-735-BIKE or bicycle@colorado.edu.
  • Construction work hours will be 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with crews generally off-site by 5 p.m.
  • Construction noise at times could impact nearby building users.
  • Following the spring semester, the Engineering Center Computer Science wing will close, re-opening in spring 2020.
  • Also following the spring semester, the first and second levels of the business library will close for the duration of the project.