On the 19th floor of Independence Plaza, with sweeping views of downtown Denver and the Rocky Mountains in the distance, sticky notes filled with thoughtful ideas covered a white wall. Handwritten in CU Denver’s teal blue, they said phrases like “create community,” “the future is bright,” “flourishing space for faculty, staff, and students,” “built-in experiential learning for students,” and others.
The notes were from students, faculty, and staff who attended an open house at the building on Friday, Oct. 23. They were asked to imagine what was possible for CU Denver’s new space that sits along the pedestrian portion of 16th Street. The acquisition of the building in August 2026 marked a significant milestone for CU Denver’s role as the Denver metro area’s anchor higher education partner and for the students and communities it serves.
The open house was the first opportunity for the CU Denver community to get to know Independence Plaza. Hundreds of learners and employees took Lynx-led tours of key spaces, listened to live music from the College of Arts & Media alumni band Hunters and Gatherers, conversed over lunch and sweet treats from the Housing and Dining team, and shared excitement for the future of the building and what it means for CU Denver. They also had a chance to ask questions and share ideas with university leadership, including Chancellor Kenneth T. Christensen.
