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Completed in 1921 with wings added in 1938, Hellems Arts & Sciences is the first building on CU Boulder’s campus that embodied Charles Klauder’s signature Tuscan vernacular style. In addition to an overall refresh, the 95,000-square-foot facility needed health and safety improvements, accessibility improvements and energy-efficiency upgrades.

Sustainability upgrades

Enhancing the building envelope is one of the key initiatives to make Hellems more efficient. This includes adding spray foam insulation to all exterior walls, many of which lacked insulation. There will also be a new layer of insulation on the roof, which required removing the original clay tiles and adding a new waterproofing layer. In an effort to repurpose materials, more than 80% of the original tiles will be reused, and hardwood floors, terrazzo and transoms will be refurbished instead of replaced.

The Hellems renovation will reduce the building’s energy use intensity (EUI)—a measure of how much energy a building uses relative to its size, measured in kilo British thermal units (kBtu) per square foot—by 68%.

“Our target EUI was 50, but with all the upgrades, we are trending toward 35 EUI, down from 109, even with the addition of air conditioning,” Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Resilience Chris Ewing said. “Adding insulation and high-performance windows allowed us to remove perimeter heating systems from the outer walls of the building, which is a big factor that contributes to the EUI decrease.”

All original windows in Hellems were single pane and will be replaced with triple-pane glass. Fluorescent lights will be switched out for LEDs and new skylights will bring in natural light. Corridors are also being relocated to exterior walls in the classroom wing and additional windows on the basement level will bring in more daylight.

“An important part of the Hellems design was prepping it for our eventual low-temperature hot-water heating conversion, which is a critical strategy toward our campus decarbonization efforts,” said Ewing, who also noted the university is targeting LEED Gold certification for the building through the renovation.

Inclusivity improvements

The north entrance to Hellems originally faced a blank wall, behind which originally sat the dean’s office. The redesign includes removal of the wall to create an open, bright and welcoming entry lobby with a view out to Mary Rippon Theatre. New outdoor patios will further enhance the space for all users.

“The design has turned this space back over to the students,” Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Resource Management Zack Tupper said. “This big entrance will now be a communal area that belongs to everyone, creating more flow through the building with better wayfinding.”

Previously, Hellems had only one ADA-accessible entrance. When the building reopens, four of the building’s entrances will be accessible for everyone. The increased accessibility into Mary Rippon Theatre will be a major benefit for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival as well. Both existing elevators are also being upgraded to access every floor.

Several of Hellems’ restrooms will be all-user, multi-stall with shared sinks. These all-user restrooms will be accompanied by single-stall and binary restrooms. A wellness suite will accommodate nursing parents and those otherwise in need of a quiet space.

“The Hellems renovation is more than just an upgrade of bricks and mortar—it’s an investment in the future of the humanities,” said Dean of Division, Arts and Humanities John-Michael Rivera. “It reflects our belief that the study of human culture, history and thought is not just essential, but vital to shaping a thoughtful, informed society. By creating an environment that fosters creativity, dialogue and scholarly growth, we are investing in the minds that will shape the future of our world.”

Project managers have been particularly thoughtful about honoring the land’s history. CU Boulder’s land acknowledgement will be at the main entrance and on the east side of the building, where medicinal and native plants will be planted, along with engravings in seating areas and indigenous art.

“At least 85% of students who graduate from CU Boulder take a class in Hellems, so it needs to be inclusive,” Tupper said. “This design was a collaborative effort; we held more than 30 workshops with building occupants and various student groups who helped with design recommendations.”

The $105.2 million Hellems renovation is receiving 40% of its funding from the state of Colorado, with the university covering 60%. Construction updates are being posted on the Facilities Management Cone Zone website. Hellems is scheduled to reopen for the spring semester of 2026.