Construction and preparation work on the CU Center for Worship and the Performing Arts and the Golden Eagles Athletics Complex are continuing on schedule this fall.
The CU Center is undergoing significant upgrades and enhancements and is presently in the deconstruction phase of its makeover. As students returned to campus, “soft demolition” was in process, removing things like drywall and pews. Soon, construction crews will begin replacing or updating certain structural elements including steel beams, concrete floors, and rafters.
“This is a fast build, and so far we’re on time, on track, and on budget,” says Tim Odle, vice president of university operations.
Dump trucks and a crane have been busy clearing debris to make way for the re-construction phase. The new CU Center will boast more than 800 seats, increasing capacity by nearly 300. This expansion will make it possible to host students, families, and other attendees at events, which the previous space could not accommodate. The upgraded space will expand by 6,000 square feet, with larger altar and stage areas, a new baptismal font, new sound and lighting systems, a 270-degree stage and a fully refurbished organ with a new console and restored pipes. “We are hoping to start work on the inside in spring 2025 and take a year to finish it,” says Odle.
A large cross will adorn the exterior, and the new roof will present a similar profile as before.
Down the hill, grading and compacting of earth continue where the Golden Eagles Athletics Complex will soon be, preparing it for a concrete slab to be poured. When that work is completed in mid-November or December, “You’ll start seeing the building go up,” says Odle.
The changes are part of the Vision 2025 phase of the University’s Campus Master Plan. The $45 million capital project is being funded by donations; no long-term debt will be utilized. The goal is to begin using the new CU Center in early 2026.
So far, so good, Odle reports. “We have not found anything that causes concern in the demolition of the CU Center or the grading of the Golden Eagles Athletics Complex,” he says. “If we have a lot of rainfall like we did the last two years, that will delay us. But we’re moving along and it’s going to be good. We’re excited.”