Ribbon Cutting Officially Opens Colorado College's Exapnded & Transformed Tutt Library

Tutt Library's new entry plaza
October 14, 2018
A ribbon cutting ceremony marked the official opening of Colorado College's newly expanded and transformed Tutt Library, the nation's largest carbon-neutral net-zero academic library to date. The elegant concrete forms of the original 1962 library, designed by Walter Netsch, have been incorporated into the expansion, which adds approximately 37,000 square feet and doubles the seating capacity. Complex collaboration of planning, design and construction allowed for an addition with views of Pikes Peak and the lower range, a grand entry plaza, a café and two terraces; and a new fourth floor, with an outdoor terrace, all while maintaining carbon neutral net-zero sustainability. This is achieved in part with 115kW onsite and 400kW offsite photovoltaic solar arrays, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and LED lighting with occupancy and daylighting controls. The design supports the College's unique academic program, the Block Plan, in which one subject is studied intensively for 3 1/2 weeks, with upgraded technology, cutting-edge teaching and collaboration spaces, a data visualization lab, Geospatial Information Systems lab, a Tech Sandbox, and space for additional stacks to facilitate immediate access.