Colorado State University
PRE-3: Institutional Boundary

Colorado State University was founded as the Colorado Agricultural College in 1870, and in the fall of 1879 the first 5 students began classes here. The campus originated on the South West corner of College Ave. and Laurel St., and has continued to grow to the South West. The Oval is a nationally recognized landmark including a notable expanse of collegian green space with delightful American elm trees at the historic heart of the Colorado State University Main Campus.

By 1970, the post-war building boom had more than tripled building square footage. Starting with the vision laid out in the 1970 Ultimate Master Plan, the next 35 years of development systematically removed vehicular streets and parking from the core of campus and transformed these areas into pedestrian oriented malls, courtyards and plazas. A central pedestrian mall (the Academic Spine) was realized from Lake Street on the south to the Engineering Building to the north, with plazas constructed at major cross intersections (University and Pitkin Streets). At the same time, interior quads and campus gateways were further articulated and visually strengthened with shade trees.

Early in 2005, CSU started planning and conceptual design work for one of the most prolific building booms in University history. CSU projects during this initiative were able to achieve compelling architecture and material qualities through sustainable building practices, while also raising the bar for future development.

CSU also maintains the Foothills Campus three miles west of Main Campus, which is home to several research labs, units, centers, and institutes. The J.L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital is located on an adjacent area of land known as South Campus. The University also maintains the Mountain Campus located at an elevation of 9,000 feet, as well as eight Agricultural Experiment Stations located throughout Colorado. In 2021, CSU opened the SPUR Campus as a free educational destination in Denver, open year-round to the public. CSU Spur is focused on engaging PreK-12 students, families, and visitors around the topics of food, water, and health through real-world experiences.

Colorado State University has a unique mission in the state of Colorado. The land-grant concept of a balanced program of teaching, research, extension, public service, and engagement provides the foundation for the University’s teaching and research programs, Agricultural Experiment Station, Extension, and Colorado State Forest Service. The University has long been a leader in recognizing the rapidly changing global environment, and has a commitment to excellence in international education in its instructional, research, and outreach programs. The University continues to make education and training accessible to deserving applicants from all classes and groups, and maintains a wide range of research, extension, and public service programs in response to the needs of the people of Colorado, the nation, and the world.

We have no medical school or hospital. However, we have one of the largest Veterinary Teaching Hospitals in the country. All university facilities where we retain operational or financial control are included.