We were commissioned by Colorado College to expand and transform the existing Tutt Library—originally designed by Walter Netsch in 1961—to reflect the changing nature of the library and the values of the College. Designed to achieve net zero energy, the expansion and renovation creates a singular facility that dynamically knits new to old, nearly doubling the seating capacity and reconnecting the library to the campus.

Project Data

Complete
92,591 sf (37,996 sf new construction; 54,585 sf renovation)

Collaborators

Structural Engineer: HCDA Engineering
MEP: Farris Engineering
Civil Engineeer: Classic Consulting Engineers & Surveyors, LLC
Landscape Architect: N.E.S. Inc.
Library AV/IT/Acoustics: The Sextant Group
Lighting: Kaplan Gehring McCarroll (KGM)
Photographer: Steve Lerum

Program & Highlights

Group study rooms, fully enclosed pods and open flexible areas
Data Visualization Lab, GIS Lab and Tech Sandbox
Experimental classroom
Special collections
24/7 floors
Indoor/outdoor reading and study areas
Flexible event/reader space

Recognition

2019 AIA/ALA Library Building Award

2019 Architizer A+Award Jury Winner – Concepts Plus Architecture+Sustainability

2019 LABC Los Angeles Architecture Awards – Innovation and Technology in the Built Environment

2018 Building Design+Construction Gold Reconstruction Award

Brian Caulfield, “Net-Zero in the Rockies,” Building Design+Construction, November 2018

2017 National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Innovation Award

Bethany Alvarez, “Colorado College’s new library skipped a LEED certification, with reason,” Colorado Springs Independent, September 6, 2017

“Colorado College’s Library is Largest Carbon Neutral, Net-Zero Academic Library in the United States,” Prism, September 28, 2017