Western Colorado University Opens Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering

Western Colorado University opened the Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering in Gunnison in January of 2021. Designed by Farnsworth Group with Research Facilities Design (RFD) as laboratory design consultant, the 75,000-sf building provides experiential learning classrooms, laboratories, instrumentation suites, lecture halls, collaboration spaces, faculty offices, and a central gallery with a canted glass curtainwall. The sustainably designed structure has attained LEED Gold certification and features passive solar technologies, low-VOC interior finishes, and a sophisticated temperature control system with 72 geothermal wells that reach 280 feet into the earth. Funded by an $80 million donation, the Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering was created in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder. The project team included civil engineer Kimley-Horn, acoustic consultant Wave Engineering, energy modeler Dark Energy, and LEED consultant BG Buildingworks. General contractor Mesa Properties began construction on the facility in January of 2019.