CREJ

86 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / December 2021 / The University of Denver / Work on the Burwell began about two months later, but DU viewed all three as simultaneous projects since they would all open in concert with one another. “One of the really unusual aspects of this process was the integration between all three projects but, in partic- ular, between the Community Commons and the Dimond Family Residential Village,” says Erin Hillhouse, AIA, principal, Anderson Mason Dale Architects. “We started with programming both buildings as one gigantic bucket of programming and then decided, with the university team, which pieces would best work in which building.” As is the process for any campus build, initial program- ming is done in-house, then outside firms are brought in to collaborate on the project, conduct campus work- shops and feedback sessions, fine-tune final designs and shepherd the project through construction. According to Jane Loefgren, DU’s associate university architect, the need for a student-centric space had been building for decades. “It was pushed by students, alum- ni and the administration because it was a long time in coming.” Initial programming included outreach to the campus groups that would actually use the building, as well as visioning workshops with students, faculty, staff and campus leadership. This dialogue with the various stake- Community Commons University architect: Jane Loefgren, AIA Design architect: Moore Ruble Yudell – Santa Monica, California Executive architect: Anderson Mason Dale Architects – Denver General contractor: Saunders Construction – Centennial The Community Commons feels even larger than it looks from the outside thanks to open floor plates, a central canyonlike space. The building literally reaches out with the Driscoll Pedestrian Bridge, which reaches from the second floor and across Evans Avenue.