CSU Buildings and Grounds History

Botany Annex, 1931

From CSU's Sense of Place:  A Campus History of Colorado's Land-Grant University, by James E. Hansen, Gordon A. Hazard, and Linda M. Meyer.  Fort Collins, CO:  Colorado State University, 2018.

Architects - Eugene G. Groves (original), Frank Vaught, Joseph Frye and Justin Larson of Fort Collins (2012 renovation and addition)

Builders – C. E. Walker Construction Company of Denver (original), Dohn Construction Incorporated (2012 renovation and addition)

850 South Mason Street

This “Mission-style” building along with its greenhouses was built in 1930.  It mirrored the design of the neighboring South College Gym/Glenn Morris Field House complex.  Costing $24,878, it was designed by Eugene G. Groves and built by the C.E. Walker Construction Company.  Originally, it was called the “Botany Annex” until 1960 when it became the “Physical Education Annex”.  In 1966, its name was changed to the “Cooperative Units” as the building began housing offices of the Colorado Cooperative Fishery Unit and the Colorado Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit.  In 2003, the name “Alder Hall” was given to the building. 

In 2011, Architects Frank Vaught, Joseph Frye and Justin Larson of Fort Collins designed a large new addition and building renovation.  Dohn Construction Incorporated served as the general contractor for the project.  Besides expansion and modernization, the work enhanced access for people with disabilities.

The newly renovated building reopened for use in January 2012.  The final interior detail-work was completed in August 2012.   The University’s new international student recruiting and support program called “INTO Colorado State University” moved to the building. The “INTO Learning Resource Center”, “INTO Café”, and “Intensive English” are housed in Alder Hall.  They work with the “INTO Administrative Offices” located at neighboring Spruce Hall.

In December 2016, Chelsea Tan became the first INTO student to complete her course studies and graduate with a B.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology as well as a B.A. in Economics. A native of Malaysia, Tan moved to Hong Kong to seek employment.  She expressed the desire to return to the University to do graduate work in the near future.  Tan began the flow of INTO students earning undergraduate degrees from CSU that continues to this day.