Construction has started on the University of Colorado Boulder’s new chemistry and applied mathematics (CHAP) facility. The project is intended to support research, sustainability, and interdisciplinary work at the university.
The CHAP building will be located on the southeast side of the Business School Field along Regent Drive. It will cover about 139,000 gross square feet and will serve as the home for both the Chemistry and Applied Mathematics departments.
The CU Board of Regents approved funding for the project in 2024, with a total budget of $175.43 million.
Before construction began, the project was reviewed by the University of Colorado’s Design Review Board (DRB). The board evaluated the building eight times between May 2023 and April 2025 during workshops and formal sessions. The DRB works with campus architects and other professionals to guide design teams through planning and development stages.
According to the press release, “The DRB collaborates with campus architects and other campus professionals to provide expert guidance to project design teams, leading to thoughtful and lasting projects. The DRB is responsible for reviewing all site development and exterior architectural components of projects on CU campuses and remains actively engaged from the earliest stages of pre-design through the full design development process.”
The board consists of six members: three professional architects, a landscape architect, an architect or engineer with expertise in sustainable building design, and a senior administrator or faculty member from CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning. Members are appointed by the university president based on their credentials in architecture or related fields.
“The board’s involvement in the CHAP building reflects CU’s strong commitment to excellence in design and sustainability, ensuring the new facility contributes positively to the campus’s architectural legacy,” according to university officials.
Further information about this project can be found at CU Boulder Today.
