News

Denver, Colo. – CSU Spur, a first-of-its-kind educational campus in Denver that brings research, science, and careers into reach for visitors, is opening its next building as part of its year-round, free, public offerings.

On June 8, the second of three buildings at CSU Spur – Terra – opens with a focus on connecting the public with food and agriculture innovation. The public is invited to a series of free events at CSU Spur – near I-70 and I-25 – including a Kids Day on June 10, and a Community, Friends, and Family Day in collaboration with the National Western Center on June 11.

CSU Spur opening events!

Activities are free and open to the public and will be hosted at CSU Spur!  Put 4817 National Western Dr., Denver, CO 80216 in your GPS for directions; parking is free in the N Lot (information on parking and directions).

Grand opening & ribbon cutting
Wednesday, June 8 (11 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

Kids Day at Terra
Friday, June 10 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

Curious kids of all ages are invited to their first experience at Terra! Enjoy a day of taste-testing foods, painting with plant-based watercolors, the CSU Bug Zoo, and so much more! Don’t forget to pop into the Vida building to see Spur’s horses, see veterinarians at work, and spend time in the play vet clinic!

Community, Family & Friends Day
with CSU Spur and the National Western Center
Saturday, June 11 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) 

CSU Spur will be open and filled to the brim with fun activities! Be part of a community art project and check out greenhouses, interactive exhibits, and the on-view labs and kitchen. Don’t miss the amazing views of downtown Denver from the rooftop!

Visit the rest of the National Western Center by walking over to the Stockyards Event Center for outdoor games, family activities, and Jurassic World: The Exhibition (ticketed event).

The 60,000-square-foot Terra building features a living wall and vertical gardens, food research and development labs, an expansive test kitchen that doubles as a site for community cooking classes, a rooftop greenhouse and green roof gardens, learning labs for K-12 students, high-tech growth chambers that produce vegetable crops indoors, and places for kids to play and get hands-on with learning.

“Terra provides a chance for visitors to connect with the scientists and businesses touching every step in the food system, from growing food to developing new food products, all with an eye toward innovation and sustainability” said Jocelyn Hittle, the CSU System’s assistant vice chancellor for CSU Spur.

In addition to getting the public and school groups connected to where their food comes from, Terra will connect urban and rural communities around food and agriculture, with the goal of encouraging people from all backgrounds – as well as scientists, policy makers, and business and industry leaders – to work together to feed the world.

CSU Spur is a never-before-done concept. The CSU university system received state funding to build a space for research, teaching, and public use that is meant to inspire and engage people in educational, fun, and forward-thinking programs and activities, connect visitors to real-time research and careers, and share the resources of the CSU System’s three campuses: Colorado State University, CSU Pueblo, and CSU Global.

CSU Spur opened its first building, called Vida, showcasing human and animal health, in January 2022, and will open the final building, Hydro, dedicated to water, in January 2023.

About CSU Spur

CSU Spur is a new, free educational year-round public life-long learning destination in Denver focused on engaging K-12 students, families, and visitors around food, water, and health. CSU Spur showcases the work of the CSU System campuses: CSU, CSU Pueblo, and CSU Global, and offers degree programs that originate from the campus offerings. Spur is built upon the land-grant mission of access to education and the belief that students can be anything they want to be. To inspire learners of all ages to engage in important world issues, CSU Spur brings together scientists to collaborate, puts science on-display, and showcases career paths. The CSU Spur campus provides immersive learning experiences and cutting-edge research across three buildings: Vida, Terra, and Hydro. Learn more at CSUSpur.org.