Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joseph Garcia will be among the dignitaries to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the Library & Academic Resources Center (LARC) at Colorado State University-Pueblo on April 22.

The state’s leaders will join Interim President Julio Leon in rededicating the first building on the Belmont campus, which has been closed for the past two years to undergo a $24-million renovation. Faculty and staff offices and classrooms were relocated to various areas across campus during the renovation.

As the first building constructed on the Belmont Campus in 1965, the facility originally housed the library in the tower, administration offices on the 6th floor and classrooms in the wing. As the campus has evolved, the programmatic requirements of the library and associated student services and support programs also have expanded. The renovation provides for 22,600 additional sq ft of space, complete replacement of the mechanical and electrical systems and significant improvements in technology.

Recent developments in technology have changed the way students gather and process information and the way instructors deliver information. The newly renovated building has been designed to reinforce new learning processes by adding gathering places for interaction and collaboration. It also provides an atmosphere that focuses on information processing, management and organization as opposed to just information retrieval. The renovation includes more interactive spaces such as group study spaces, gathering areas, technology learning labs, and project incubation centers.

In keeping with its goal of securing a LEED-Platinum designation, the facility includes an innovative chilled-beam mechanical system, efficient water and lighting fixtures and daylight harvesting to dim lighting when spaces are lit by daylight. Nearly half of the materials used on the project have some level of recycled content.  

Article toolbar The ribbon-cutting will begin at 10 a.m., and as part of the celebration, three separate tours—technology, sustainability and academic resources—will be cater to those specific areas of interest at 10:45 a.m. Attendees will be eligible for drawings for a Kindle and I-Pad and will be able to sample beverages and Country Oven Bakery pastries that will be sold on a regular basis in the building’s cafe.