Past Projects
Students and faculty teamed up with city governments to complete projects addressing the ins and outs of municipalities, including arts and economic development, attainable housing, water treatment, and civic engagement strategies. Students and faculty produced tangible results for city partners.
Waze Data Analysis/Toolbox
Project Lead: Roxann Hayes, Senior Instructor CTT, College of Engineering, Design and Computing. Professor Hayes is led a group of undergraduate students through investigation, research, analysis, and design of methods to utilize Waze data for traffic capacity and signalization optimization.
Iliff School of Theology Building Site Study
Project Lead: Bill Myhren, Lecturer, College of Architecture and Planning. Site feasibility/massing study for redevelopment.
Trail Design and Historic Building Preservation
Project Lead: Peter Marxhausen, College of Engineering, Design and Computing. Professor Marxhausen led two groups of undergraduate students through projects for Central City: the first group completed a hiking trail design around the city; the second did an assessment of a historic building, outlining measures that would need to be taken to preserve the building. Students presented their work to Central City City Council.
Jefferson County
Project Lead: Samuel Gallaher, School of Public Affairs. Professor Gallaher led a class of graduate students in assessing public notification publishing practices of Jefferson County, looking for efficiencies and comparing best practices with other counties in the state.
City of Arvada
In 2017-18, Hometown Colorado Initiative (HCI) completed several projects designed to assess and advance the City of Arvada’s arts economy, travel demands, urban parks, neighborhood engagements, agricultural master plan, water conservation and many more topics. Students provided insight into the need for attainable housing in Arvada to attract and retain working households, employers, and senior households. The Senior and Workforce Housing in Arvada Survey Analysis conducted by students informed housing developers and businesses of current local needs. At the same time, another course analyzed 11 vacant land parcels in Arvada and created maps to showcase suitability for the development of multi-family attainable housing. Other courses worked to re-envisioned transit hubs within Arvada, to promote quality of life and well-being, by creating a network of parks, nature spaces, trails, and interactive elements. Lastly, course studies strengthened community through food and agriculture by utilizing existing park and open space to create collaborative and integrative spaces for food production, distribution, and consumption by the City’s residents. Fall 2017 Arvada Music and Arts Economy (Phase 1) Fleet Maintenance Building Conceptualizing Attainable Housing (Phase 2) Community Agriculture Master Plan (Phase 1 - Policy) Ralston Water Treatment Facility, Water Conserving Landscape Arvada Workforce Study Spring 2018 Community Agriculture Master Plan (Phase 2 - Site Specific) Arvada Music and Arts Economy (Phase 2) Olde Town Parking and Travel Demand Study Neighborhood Engagement Strategies for Development Activity Urban Park as Green Strategy Audacious Strategies for Activating Transit Station Areas: Applying Community, Wellness, Parks, and Nature Themes to the Arvada Ridge Station Area Alice Sweet Thomas Master Plan Water Budget Analysis Senior and Workforce Housing in Arvada Arvada Sites for Attainable Housing Garden in a Box
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City of Lakewood
The City of Lakewood partnered with CU Denver to address projects through student coursework. Projects included: In 2016-17 projects with Hometown Colorado partner the City of Lakewood focused on water conservation and attainable housing. Students installed a "garden in a box" using xeriscaping, and provided low-water-use options for a master plan for Alice Sweet Thomas Park. Others used GIS to analyze a yard's size and composition to develop tiered water pricing based on expected usage. A housing class surveyed residents to determine cost barriers. Advanced GIS students did an inventory of vacant land that may be available for developing multifamily housing and much more.
Pattern Book for Northwest Denver
Project Lead: Korkut Oranan, Assistant Professor Adjunct, College of Architecture and Planning. Professor Oranan, along with two graduate students, completed an overlay district proposal with CM Espinoza and Harkness Heights community.