The University of Colorado-Denver Lola & Rob Salazar Wellness Center

Denver, CO
Construction Cost: $35,650,000
Area / Square Feet: 92,000 gsf
Occupancy Date: August 2018

The first dedicated wellness center on this downtown Denver campus, the Lola & Rob Salazar Student Wellness Center was founded on the principles of holistic wellness. The project focused on transforming the student experience with a wide range of recreation and wellness activities and resources, as well as providing a landmark presence at the edge of campus overlooking downtown.

One of three institutions that comprise the Auraria Higher Education Campus, the University of Colorado Denver has seen dramatic growth over the past decade but has struggled to develop its own distinct identity within this tripartite organization. The wellness center was originally envisioned by student leadership as a means to build a more complete campus experience, to advance an institutional brand that speaks to their values of holistic balance and academic enrichment, to create a home outside classroom hours for students to feel welcome and at ease, and to provide an outstanding facility to attract and retain the highest-caliber students from across the country.

The new facility includes a three-court gymnasium, a cantilevered climbing wall, a six-lane lap pool, state-of-the-art fitness resources, and 5,600 square feet of student lounge, study and wellness spaces intended to promote an enriched overall academic experience that balances physical well-being with spiritual and emotional wellness. In addition to panoramic views from inside, a roof terrace accommodates wellness activities overlooking Denver and the university campus.