University of Denver News Releases
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
“Built for Learning” highlights the University of Denver’s architectural and educational renaissance
Dan Ritchie to participate in book signing at the Tattered Cover on Dec. 4
DENVER — Domes & Towers. Theaters & Arenas. Classrooms & Laboratories. A photograph-rich book is now available that chronicles the University of Denver’s (DU) extraordinary architecture and the remarkable people who made it possible.
"Built for Learning” uses hundreds of color photographs to showcase a host of new buildings that complement the Colorado landscape and give the campus a signature look. This “coffee table book” also chronicles the University’s work to develop and refine a distinctive architectural philosophy and design aesthetic.
The story behind the University’s architecture begins in the 1980s, when fiscal woes nearly drove the institution to dissolution. In the following decade, thanks to resourceful leadership and a unified vision, the institution re-emerged as a vital center of top-quality education.
The campus today belongs to a thriving Denver and a vibrant Colorado. Its palette of materials—sun-loving sandstone, sturdy brick and resilient copper—reflect the state’s landscape and culture. Timeless and durable, these materials have become the University’s architectural signature, its metaphor for quality, integrity and a quality educational experience.
“And that was our idea…buildings built of stone and built to last, from the copper roofs down to the foundations,” says Chancellor Emeritus Dan Ritchie, who oversaw the rebuilding of the campus with the late University Architect Cab Childress. “For us, it’s a philosophy of quality and honesty that these buildings need to express.”
“Built for Learning” features the following chapters:
1. A University Is Born
2. Shaping A Campus For The 21st Century
3. Buildings For Living and Learning
4. Buildings That Welcome The Community
5. Adapting Old Buildings For New Purposes
6. Building Green
7. Laboratories For Experiential Learning
8. A Marriage Of Art And Architecture
9. Landscapes To Inspire Learning
On Nov. 28 (12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.), a special buy one, get one free sale is available if the book is purchased online or at the University of Denver bookstore.
The book can be purchased at the following locations:
· www.du.edu/builtforlearning (Special $39.95 pricing now)
· DU Bookstore on-campus location (Special $39.95 pricing now)
· DU Bookstore Web site www.dubookstore.com (Special $39.95 pricing now)
· Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver
In addition, there will be a book signing with Dan Ritchie and current University Architect Mark Rodgers on December 4, 2008 at the Tattered Cover LoDo location at 7:30 p.m.
-30-
The University of Denver (www.du.edu), the oldest private university in the Rocky Mountain region, enrolls approximately 11,409 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Denver as a Research University with high research activity.
Contact: Jim Berscheidt
Phone: (303) 871-3172
E-mail: Jim.Berscheidt@du.edu