At topping-off celebration, CU Denver gets in Student Wellness Center spirit

University News – CU Denver Today

It’s fitting that the CU Denver Student Wellness Center brims with opportunities to speed your pulse because, as student Alex Pong observed at the topping-off celebration, the facility will be the new heartbeat of our vibrant campus in the city.
The June ceremony attracted about 150 CU Denver students, faculty and staff as the final beam was hoisted onto the building at the corner of Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway. The energy that has infused the Student Wellness Center project – beginning with the student-driven effort that envisioned “a space of their own” and surged into last fall’s groundbreaking celebration – keeps growing and fueling everything that the center promises to become.
Meet your Student Wellness Center staff (and Milo the Lynx). At the topping-off celebration are, from left, Susie Lederer, peer educators coordinator; Kyle Smith, assistant director for wellness and outdoor pursuits; Milo the Lynx, mascot; Amber Long, executive director; Lauren Brown, assistant director for facilities and operations; and Brett Lagerblade, assistant director for competitive sports and camps.Amber Long, executive director of the Student Wellness Center, channeled that anticipation at the topping-off event. “Everything is a possibility right now, and the energy behind this project is phenomenal,” she said. Long encouraged the CU Denver community to bring her ideas they have for activities, partnerships and programming in the 85,000-square-foot facility that will feature a swimming pool, climbing wall, gymnasium, lounges, bike shop, outdoor pursuit center and fitness rooms.
‘Heart and soul of campus’
Raul Cardenas, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, signs the gold topping-off beam at the June celebration.The center is scheduled to open during spring semester 2018, and Pong, the outgoing Student Government Association (SGA) president, can’t wait. “This is really building our CU Denver identity. This is the legacy we will be leaving the university, and future students will know that this is now the heart ...

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