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We are thrilled by the opportunity to reimagine the iconic Hellems Arts and Sciences building, creating a welcoming space for all at the ��ƷSM����ӰƬ. Discover more about the early history of the Hellems building, renovation details, our student-first design process and what to expect next.

To submit pictures that show campus spaces that are welcoming or unwelcoming, email our team with the image attached. 

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Building Inclusivity

The word “university” means “whole, entire, totality.” It exemplifies the objective of the Hellems Arts & Sciences renewal. Our goal is to design and construct a building that welcomes all and embraces our unique experiences, perspectives, talents and contributions—people from the whole state, the entire country, the totality of the world.

A foundation of three pillars enables us to achieve this objective. An Owner. A Designer. A Builder. All three share responsibility. All three are devoted to the following goals:  

• Acknowledge that we are building on the traditional territories of the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations
• Hold a zero-tolerance policy for hate, discrimination or bias in any form
• Ensure the thousands of people who will touch this project understand the goal of Building Inclusivity
• Create a working environment of trust, dignity and compassion in which people feel valued and supported 
• Be aware of how resources are expended and how they affect local and disadvantaged communities
• Design and build space that makes everyone feel safe and welcome, and ready to engage, question and learn

By pursuing these goals, we are Building Inclusivity. We are ensuring that the design and construction of this project embodies the experience we aim to provide to users for the next 100 years and beyond.  

Land acknowledgment 

We honor and acknowledge that the University of Colorado’s four campuses are on the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute, Apache, Comanche, Kiowa, Lakota, Pueblo and Shoshone Nations. Further, we acknowledge the 48 contemporary tribal nations historically tied to the lands that compose what is now called Colorado.

Acknowledging that we live in the homelands of Indigenous peoples recognizes the original stewards of these lands and their legacies. With this land acknowledgment, we celebrate the many contributions of Native peoples to the fields of medicine, mathematics, government and military service, arts, literature, engineering and more. We also recognize the sophisticated and intricate knowledge systems Indigenous peoples have developed in relationship to their lands.

We recognize and affirm the ties these nations have to their traditional homelands and the many Indigenous peoples who thrive in this place, alive and strong. We also acknowledge the painful history of ill treatment and forced removal that has had a profoundly negative impact on Native nations.

We respect the many diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land. We honor them and thank the indigenous ancestors of this place. The University of Colorado pledges to provide educational opportunities for Native students, faculty and staff and advance our mission to understand the history and contemporary lives of Native peoples.