Auraria Campus

On June 4, we celebrated a major milestone for the Auraria Campus with the groundbreaking of the Merage Early Learning Center.

We were honored to be joined by campus leaders, donors, project partners, faculty, staff, community members, parents, and members of the Early Learning Center community, each of whom has played a role in supporting this vision.

For decades, the Auraria Early Learning Center has served children and families while helping student parents pursue their educational goals. This new facility will build upon that legacy, expanding access to high-quality early childhood education and creating a state-of-the-art learning environment for future generations.

The event was made even more special with the unveiling of the center's new name, recognizing the extraordinary generosity and vision of David and Laura Merage. Their investment will have a lasting impact on children, families, and our campus community for years to come.

This project represents the power of partnership, philanthropy, and a shared commitment to opportunity. Together, we are investing in the future of our children, families, and the Auraria Campus community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this exciting moment.

Learn more about the project here: https://aurariacampus.edu/buildingauraria/early-learning-center-workforce-housing/

As we wrap up an incredible weekend of Outside Days on the Auraria Campus, we’re reflecting on what a special moment it was for our community.

One of the highlights? Welcoming Robin Thurston back to campus.

An Auraria alum and a MS graduate from University of Colorado Denver, Robin went on to found Outside Interactive, a multimedia platform dedicated to getting people outdoors and the company behind Outside Festival.

To see one of our alumni return as the founder of the very event that transformed our campus this weekend is a true full-circle moment.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for four days of music, inspiration, community, and outdoor adventure. What a way to kick off summer in the heart of Denver. 🌄🙌

Welcome to Auraria Campus! ☀️🏔️

Day 2 of Outside Days is here, and we’re excited to welcome some incredible leaders to campus, including the CEO of Cotopaxi and the CEO of X Games.

From inspiring conversations to outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone this weekend right here in the heart of Denver.

Who’s excited for Day 2? 🙌

XGame

Over the next few days, you may notice increased activity around campus as crews begin building out the festival footprint for Outside Days 2026, happening May 28–31 🌲🎶

To help you navigate campus during setup and festival operations, we’ve put together important information regarding access, closures, and detours.

Thank you for your patience and flexibility as Auraria Campus welcomes Outside Days 2026 to downtown Denver.
View website announcements for more information.
🔗 Link in bio.

Summer break is officially here ☀️

Finals are wrapped up, graduation celebrations are underway, and campus is shifting into summer mode,but things are just getting started at Auraria.

Over the next few weeks, we’re gearing up for one of the largest public activations happening on campus this year:
🏔️ Outside Days at Auraria Campus
📍 Tivoli Quad
📅 May 28–31, 2026

With thousands of visitors expected in downtown Denver, including the Morgan Wallen concerts at Empower Field that same weekend, we want our campus and surrounding community to stay informed and plan ahead.

We’ll continue sharing:
✔ Parking updates
✔ Campus access information
✔ Event details
✔ What to expect during load-in and festival weekend
Load-in activities begin this week, but campus operations and building access remain open and unobstructed.

Stay connected through our announcement pages for the latest updates as we get closer to event weekend! https://aurariacampus.edu/announcement/outside-days-at-auraria-campus/

♻️🎨 Something BIG is coming to Auraria Campus.

The Auraria Campus is proud to welcome internationally recognized Venezuelan artist Oscar Olivares for a one-of-a-kind public art project made entirely from recycled plastic bottle caps.

And we need YOUR help.

We’re collecting thousands of plastic bottle caps to help create TWO massive murals right here on campus — with the first mural installation coming soon and a second mural project planned for October 2026.

🟢 Donate caps inside the Tivoli Student Union
📍 First floor next to the food court
⏳ Tight deadline: May 31

Every cap counts. Every cap creates.

Visit our website to learn more: https://aurariacampus.edu/announcement/help-build-aurarias-recycled-bottle-cap-murals/

Auraria Campus will be open today. Facilities teams have cleared the parking lots and walkways. Please allow yourself extra time to get to campus if you are coming in and travel safely. Remember to check your institution’s website for any further details.

Big things happening behind the scenes at Auraria 👀

After years of planning and infrastructure upgrades, the PE & Events Center is now connected to the newly rebuilt North Chiller Plant, bringing more reliable, efficient cooling to one of our most active buildings on campus.

This project is part of a larger, long-term effort to modernize systems across our 153-acre campus and improve the day-to-day experience for our community.

Major shoutout to our Facilities, Planning & Project Management teams for making it happen.