As part of the DU Denver Advantage plan, which stems from the greater Impact 2025 initiative, one of buildings that is scheduled for reconstruction is the Driscoll Student Center (DSC). Home to the high-traffic bridge that allows students to cross Evans indoors, the building is planned to be demolished and the various services offered in the building will find a new home around campus.
“Part of the challenge between now and when the new building opens is to kind of figure out how do we continue to provide services to student groups,” said DSC Director John Nichols. At DSC, student organizations often sought spaces at this building for their meetings and would often be at little to no costs. Nichols and the assistant director, Kate McHargue, during the two-year transition period are on the lookout for new, affordable spaces for student organizations.
Anderson Academic Commons (AAC) has been one of the parts of DU that is prepared to help host these meetings or other events normally hosted at DSC during the transition period. Nichols and McHargue describe this favor as the library paying back for the accommodations DSC made when AAC was under construction a few years ago.
The DSC will be renamed as the Community Commons and is expected to have four floors. The first floor is outlined to be office and event space. “The whole second floor of the building is food service operations,” said Nichols. DU is expecting this area to be a centralized dining area with food options to accommodate for various diets. There are plans to also host a Starbucks on this floor. The third floor will offer more office spaces for the services that were originally at DSC. The fourth floor will be a rooftop where DU community members can socialize and enjoy a scenic view.
McHargue said the goal for the new Community Commons, as the name suggests, is to “[make] it the center of campus, a place where people actually spend time rather than just coming through getting whatever resources they need and heading back out.”
All sections of DSC are preparing to move out as the end of the quarter nears. There is no set move-out date but students can expect to see the transitioning out process to gradually come about. Logistics have been in discussion as inventory on the equipment of the building have been accounted for and new relocations have been determined.
Without a bridge for easy crossing, adjustments on Evans are also being planned for in order to make the crossing safer and spacious for the increasing number of pedestrians.
The team involved in construction and design includes: Anderson Mason Dale Architects, Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners and Saunders Construction.
Visit the Denver Advantage page for details on other upcoming construction projects in the next coming years.
