Colorado State and City of Fort Collins Celebrate New Transit Center with Sen. Wayne Allard Aug. 28
Colorado State University President Larry Edward Penley, Sen. Wayne Allard, Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson and Colorado State student leaders will come together to celebrate the sustainable partnership between the city and university and the grand opening of a new Transit Center on campus. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Aug. 28 on the north end of the Lory Student Center.
With the theme, "Building a Legacy through Sustainable Partnerships," the event celebrates the collaborative effort of Colorado State and the city of Fort Collins to construct the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, building on campus, reinforcing the city’s and the university’s commitment to green building practices.
"Colorado State University is tremendously grateful to the state’s congressional leadership and the city of Fort Collins for the partnership that has created this innovative facility," Penley said. "The new transit center offers a high level of service and convenience to our students and employees, and it reinforces our commitment to alternative transportation and sustainable building practices."
The renovation of the Transit Center also strengthens transportation links from Colorado State to other Fort Collins destinations by creating an improved Transfort Center complete with flat-screen monitors offering departure times, weather reports, games and news.
"The completion of the Transit Center at Colorado State is an example of the strong relationship between the city of Fort Collins and the university," said Fort Collins Mayor Doug Hutchinson. "This new Transit Center is not only a great resource for students, but it is a great resource for the entire Fort Collins community."
The $8.24 million project added 14,458 square feet to the north side of Lory Student Center and renovated 7,749 square feet of existing space. The entire facility was built through a grant from the Federal Transit Administration with Colorado State and the city leveraging the value of the land hosting the building as a 20 percent contribution.
"I applaud Colorado State University for employing ‘green’ practices to this new Transit Center, which are environmentally friendly ways to manage traffic and congestion and improve mobility," Allard said. "This collaboration of the city and the university is a good way to work with local neighborhoods to address traffic concerns in the area."
The Transit Center provides a convenience store, offices and new headquarters for RamRide, a free-ride program provided by Associated Students of CSU, or ASCSU. Computer consoles also were installed in the lower level near the CSU Bookstore.
Several LEED measures were taken to incorporate natural light, construction waste management, water-efficient landscaping and the purchase of wind power. The following are additional highlights that meet LEED standards.
– The City of Fort Collins Art in Public Place Program created a project team to develop art concepts in the facility that references the Colorado landscape.
– Recycled granite, concrete and drywall were used in the construction of the facility.
– Mark Young Construction recycled and/or salvaged 75 percent of construction, demolition and land-clearing waste created in the construction process.
– The use of natural light was achieved in the Transit Center design by optimizing the use of glass storefronts and curtain walls. A feature in the main lobby area and interior windows on office and conference room walls was developed to capture natural daylight and allow occupants a view of the outdoors.
Other speakers at the ceremony on Aug. 28 will include Lee Waddleton, Federal Transit Administration regional administrator; Blanche Hughes, Colorado State interim vice president of Student Affairs; Darin Atteberry, Fort Collins city manager; and Jason Green, president of ASCSU.
For more information about the Transit Center and the grand opening, visit www.transitcenter.colostate.edu.
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