Following over a year of construction and renovation, CU’s Kittredge Complex unveiled two building additions totaling 538 dorm rooms and $60 million as students arrived on campus for the semester.
Kittredge Central added 264 dorm rooms to Kittredge West’s 274, which were closed to students last year during renovations, opening more on-campus living space to CU’s increasing number of freshmen students. Even with the Kittredge Complex open, the freshman class overflowed to Broker Inn and other off-campus living quarters in Boulder at the onset of this semester.
Kittredge West underwent a $22.8 million renovation that started in May 2012 and was completed in July. The residence hall, originally built in 1982, was expanded by 2,500 square feet in common areas, a reception desk and study spaces.
Students walk past the recently completed Kitteredge Central residence hall. The building is home to the Global Engineering RAP and the Leadership RAP. (James Bradbury/CU Independent)
Kittredge Central, an entirely new building, was a shorter, more expensive project. It was constructed between December 2012 and July and cost approximately $37.2 million. The building includes Residential Academic Program or RAP facilities, classrooms, common rooms and offices.
David Bernstein, a freshman living in Kittredge Central, commented on how spacious the rooms are. Bernstein said that each student is given a lot of personal space between bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.
According to a September University of Colorado news release, both dorms use 33-45 percent less energy than any other buildings on campus of roughly the same size. Everything from lighting to regulating the temperature is energy efficient and over a quarter of the material used to construct the additions was recycled matter.
Some students who occupy Kittredge West this fall participate in the Health Professions RAP. Over at Kittredge Central, students can find the Global Engineering RAP and Leadership RAP.
The renovated housing comes at a cost for the students assigned to these new dorms. According to the CU release, “The total cost of the two residence halls will be financed through available cash and bonds that will be repaid through room and board rates.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Kelly Baines at Kelly.baines@colorado.edu.
