The University of Colorado Boulder has reopened its Hellems Arts and Sciences building after a two-year, $105.2 million renovation focused on sustainability and modernized spaces.
The renovation also prioritized restoration and reuse, achieving an estimated 68% reduction in energy use, even with the addition of air conditioning. Sustainability upgrades include high-efficiency HVAC systems, triple-pane windows and improved insulation while refurbishing original materials such as terrazzo and wood flooring rather than replacing them.
The more than 100-year-old building was built in 1921, with the east and west wings completed in 1938. Hellems introduced the Tuscan vernacular architectural style — a rustic and classical style inspired by architecture in Tuscany, Italy — that came to define CU Boulder’s campus. The university held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the building’s grand opening on Friday…