University of Denver Career Achievement Center

Designed to facilitate connections within the University of Denver community, the Burwell Center for Career Achievement is focused on student career development, employer engagement and alumni activities. Placed in the heart of campus, the Burwell Center boasts open, welcoming spaces and a beautiful patio surrounded by Colorado native landscaping. The mass timber structure contributes to a warm and tactile experience that connects visitors to the natural environment.

In collaboration with SAR+ Architects

The project hosts hospitality quality lounges, interview and meeting spaces, event spaces, classroom space, and Activity Based work environments for faculty and staff. Its most dominant features include main level indoor-outdoor Forums and an upper level hospitality suite for visiting executives, lecturers, and donors.

Its most dominant features include a welcoming indoor-outdoor Forum on the first floor and an upper level suite for visiting executives, lecturers, and donors. A combination of brick, limestone, slate, and copper, reflects the campus’ longstanding vernacular while also adding a modern touch.

Process

Mass Timber

To help reduce embodied carbon, the building uses a mass timber structure which also contributes to a warm and tactile experience that connects visitors to the natural environment.
By leveraging a Mass Timber structural system, the construction schedule was reduced by 6 weeks through the prefabrication and erection of the frame reducing overall construction costs.
Thanks to this progressive Mass Timber approach to design, the building is one of the first all mass timber projects in Colorado and is also aspiring to be v4 LEED Platinum certified.

Student Engagement & Success

The building and its surrounding site are focused on creating “sticky spaces,” areas that encourage users to linger and interact. The ground floor is designed to integrate with the surrounding landscape. It links the Center to DU’s academic core and future campus additions while also connecting the campus and the city with “front” doors that face both directions. As one moves up through the building, interactions gradually become more intentional and focused. The ground floor encourages serendipitous encounters around the sticky spaces, whereas the upper floors are focused on coaching, interviews, and career advising.

Student Engagement & Success

The building and its surrounding site are focused on creating “sticky spaces,” areas that encourage users to linger and interact. The ground floor is designed to integrate with the surrounding landscape. It links the Center to DU’s academic core and future campus additions while also connecting the campus and the city with “front” doors that face both directions. As one moves up through the building, interactions gradually become more intentional and focused. The ground floor encourages serendipitous encounters around the sticky spaces, whereas the upper floors are focused on coaching, interviews, and career advising.

Student Engagement & Success

The building and its surrounding site are focused on creating “sticky spaces,” areas that encourage users to linger and interact. The ground floor is designed to integrate with the surrounding landscape. It links the Center to DU’s academic core and future campus additions while also connecting the campus and the city with “front” doors that face both directions. As one moves up through the building, interactions gradually become more intentional and focused. The ground floor encourages serendipitous encounters around the sticky spaces, whereas the upper floors are focused on coaching, interviews, and career advising.