Natural Resources Building, c. 1975
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 – Floyd Lamar Kelsey of the Lamar Kelsey Associates (original), 4240 Architecture, Inc. of Denver (2018 addition and renovation of original the building)
Builder – N. G. Petry Construction Co. of Denver (original), Pinkard Construction Company (2018 addition and renovation of the original building)
400 University Avenue
In the 1960s, CSU recognized the need for expanding and upgrading the facilities for its Forestry and Range Science programs. After many years of struggling to gain the needed funds, ground was broken on May 8, 1974, for the Natural Resources Building with the planting of a spruce tree. Designed by architect Floyd Lamar Kelsey of Lamar Kelsey Associates, it was finished and equipped in December 1975. The new building opened for classes in January 1976. It was formally dedicated in March 1976.
The Department of Forest Rangeland Watershed Stewardship has offices in this building as well as the neighboring Forestry Building. The building contains two computer labs for Natural Resources students and an atrium that features a natural wet and dry display. In September 2005, alumnus Edward Warner donated $30 million to College of Natural Resources. Today it serves as home to the Warner College of Natural Resources and the Department of Geosciences.
In 1989 the old parking lot on the west side of the building was removed and a lawn area known as the “Natural Resources Commons” quadrangle was created. This landscaping project cost $60,000. In 2007 the small quadrangle would disappear to become the site for the construction of the Computer Science Building.
In April 2016 a $3.7 million donation was received to complete the funding needed to allow the construction of a $20.2 million, 37,000 square foot addition to the south side of the building. On October 7, 2016, as part of the 2016 Homecoming celebrations, ground was broken by Michael Smith and members of the Board of Governors of the CSU System. Using the design created by 4240 Architecture, work by the Pinkard Construction Company on the renovation and new addition was started following the spring commencement in May 2017. On August 9, 2018, all construction fencing was gone and the new building stood proudly accented by the new plaza where University Avenue once was.
The new addition features four floors of offices, classrooms, and meeting rooms. Beginning with the ground floor they are named Plains, Foothills, Sub-tundra and Tundra. The top floor (Tundra) features an open-air patio giving a grand view of the western portion of the campus.
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