Denver, Colorado, USA
The University of Denver Community Commons by Buzz Yudell, Jeanne Chen, and Mario Violich of Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners together with Andy Nielsen and Erin Hillhouse from Anderson Mason Dale Architects is a central hub for dining, studying, and gathering all kinds of students together on the university campus.
The design caters to the evolving needs of a large and diverse student population, offering areas for collaborative projects, quiet study, social interactions, and dining, the commons building aims to foster a sense of community and support the overall well-being and academic success of the students.
For its adaptable design, the University of Denver Community Commons project has recently been awarded a 2023 American Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture, Design, and Urban Studies.
The Community Commons welcomes an increasingly diverse community and brings a critical mass of students and resources to the heart of campus.
The project fluid shaping funnels and mixes students, capturing movement to and from the neighboring first-year residence hall with a variety of spaces to dine, meet, socialize, and study.
The Commons strengthens campus identity and gateway and recognizes that less formal buildings appeal to today’s students.
The building conveys a sense of openness and invitation through transparency and reinforces an inclusive sense of belonging by celebrating diverse cultures and bringing student-focused services together under one roof.
The Commons serves as a campus dining room that unites the broader community with a variety of healthy dining options and indoor and outdoor seating for over 700.
The building features a rooftop with great views of the surrounding campus and mountains while offering plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
Glassed-off study rooms offer quiet places to work, even among the buzz of the people gathering to socialize or study in groups nearby.
A variety of spaces for all kinds of meetings and designated dining areas invite students to stay and gather.
Project: University of Denver Community Commons
Architects: Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners
Principals in Charge: Buzz Yudell, Jeanne Chen, and Mario Violich
Executive Architects: Anderson Mason Dale Architects
Principals in Charge: Andy Nielsen and Erin Hillhouse
Client: University of Denver
Photographers: Frank Ooms, Wayne Armstrong, and Jonathan Knight
