The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado has worked collaboratively with local colleges and universities to provide real world experience to their students. Some of these initiatives are listed below. If you would like to develop curriculum which involves our programs, please contact education [at] sustainablecolorado.org
Colorado School of Mines – Spring 2011
Alliance Center Living Building Project
Class: Design (EPICS) 251, Tamara Carey, Adjunct Faculty
Description: Students will assist in the re-design of the historic property, known as the Alliance Center, to achieve the “Living Building Challenge” designation. Students are to produce a conceptual design, basis of design (BOD), project plan, and Living Building Challenge scorecard for renovating the Alliance Center so that it will able to apply and achieve the “Living Building Challenge” under its renovation track.
University of Colorado at Denver – Spring 2010
Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Assessing the Value of Shared Services and Collaboration at the Alliance Center
Class: Defining and Measuring Sustainability, Dr. Anu Ramaswami
Description: Students determined benchmark values for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions at the Alliance Center by reviewing current energy consumption for the building. They used Life Cycle Analysis of current practices in water use, trash generation and various travel habits to determine current practices within the building that affect the carbon footprint. The final class report provides recommendations for the Alliance Center to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote a more collaborative environment between tenants.
Metropolitan State College of Denver – Spring 2008
Apprentice Challenge
Class: Apprentice Challenge @ Metro State, Alumni Association and Office of Alumni Relations
Description: Alliance staff sponsored and guided two teams of Metro State juniors (The A-Team and 5280 Closers) in a month-long challenge to audit and develop sustainable solutions for two local businesses.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design – Spring and Summer 2005
LEED Certification Research
Class: Green Interior Design II and Green Interior Design III, Julie Stewart-Pollack, ASID, IDEC
Description: Second and third course students chose one specific LEED point for research in Existing Building Certification and the Existing Buildings Certification categories. Students then evaluated and documented the Alliance Center’s level of achievement for each point earned.
University of Colorado at Denver – Fall 2004
Preservation Studio
Class: Graduate Architectural Studio, Instructor Chris Kozial
Description: This studio combined several exciting aspects in a real world application to design a new, green building in the parking lot of the Alliance Center. 1) It included students from several disciplines in the ‘preservation certificate’ program; 2) it considered issues of sustainability; and 3) it focused around a unique collaboration with the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado. The students worked with the Alliance staff and professional project consultants over the semester. A number of guest speakers, critics, and field trips were included.
