Auraria Campus officials broke ground Wednesday on a $36 million Campus Public Safety Center, a project that leaders say will modernize public safety facilities with student-centered services and community engagement.
The new two-story, 32,000-square-foot facility will serve as the cornerstone of an updated safety infrastructure for the shared downtown Denver campus, home to Metropolitan State University of Denver, Community College of Denver and the University of Colorado Denver.
The new center, funded by state appropriations, will be on the south side of campus, at Curtis and 7th streets. It’s expected to open in 2027. The project is led by the Auraria Higher Education Center, the state entity that manages the campus’ grounds, shared facilities, infrastructure and Police Department.
“This new facility will significantly strengthen our service to the Auraria community,” Chief Jason Mollendor of the Auraria Campus Police Department said in a news release. “It will provide safer, more welcoming spaces for students and offer expanded opportunities for education and engagement in public safety — and the opportunity for the Auraria Campus to train the next generation of law enforcement professionals.”
Building for safety, community and learning
The Campus Public Safety Center will house updated offices for ACPD, training spaces for officers and classrooms dedicated to criminal justice programs across the three institutions. Leaders emphasize that the building is designed not only as a headquarters for law enforcement but as a hub for learning, support and collaboration.
The center will include a secure 24/7 student lounge with food options, study spaces and community learning areas. Officials say the design reflects the findings of the Auraria Campus’ 2025 Community Engagement Report, which called for inclusive, accessible safety resources that respond to the needs of historically marginalized populations.
Students from those populations often report feeling less safe or having negative interactions with campus safety officials, Auraria Campus officials said in a news release. National surveys show more than half of college students believe more must be done to ensure safety on campus.
“Finalizing the funding for this long-anticipated project marks a major milestone for Auraria Campus,” said Colleen Walker, Auraria Campus CEO. “The Campus Public Safety Center will strengthen our emergency-response capabilities while also serving as a hub for education, student support and meaningful community engagement.”
Andrea R. Borrego, Ph.D., chair and professor in the MSU Denver Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, speaks at Campus Safety Grounbreakind ceremony on Sept. 3, 2025. Photo by Polina Saran
GH Phipps, a Colorado-based construction firm, was awarded the contract through a competitive bidding process. Preconstruction work began this summer, marking a busy year for construction on the Auraria Campus.
Preconstruction work has also begun at the site of MSU Denver’s first residence hall, located on the campus’ north side. And next year, the University plans to break ground on the Gina and Frank Day Health Institute Tower, housing MSU Denver’s health-related departments and programs.
