Responding to the growing demand for student housing at the Colorado School of Mines, the university redeveloped the aging, low-density Mines Park complex, demolishing six outdated buildings and replaced them with five apartment buildings – four utilizing mass timber.
Totaling 284,000 sq. ft. and providing 658 apartment-style beds, the Village at Mines Park was designed to serve graduate students, upper-division undergraduates, and student families, the new residences offer a mix of studio, two-bedroom, and four-bedroom units.
Project Construction – LWT / CLT Hybrid Approach
Located on the university’s Golden, Colorado campus, the project is one of the largest CLT hybrid structure projects in the United States using cross-laminated timber floor and ceiling panels and Glulam beams in combination with traditional wood-framed walls. This innovative approach supports the project’s ambitious sustainability goals while showcasing the biophilic warmth and aesthetic appeal of exposed wood.
Element5 proudly supplied 5-ply CLT and Glulam for the project. The prefabricated mass timber and panelized system accelerated the construction schedule, improved quality control, reduced site waste and noise, and minimized rework.
Village at Mines Park Project Details
Set across a sloped 50-foot grade, the buildings are carefully sited to follow the natural topography, creating a varied, pedestrian-friendly campus landscape.
The architecture and interiors draw inspiration from local geology, using natural materials and organic forms to foster strong indoor-outdoor connections and a sense of place rooted in the surrounding environment.
- One of the five buildings includes a 7,000 sq. ft. community space with a café, study lounge, and resident life offices, as well as a 2,000 sq. ft. fitness center and outdoor gathering areas.
- Over 16 acres of site development.
- Features all-electric systems and 18 EV charging stations.
Completed in just 20 months, the Village at Mines Park welcomed new residents in August, 2025, and was completed on time and on budget.
Related Articles
- Sustainable Village at Mines Park opens in Golden, Colorado Biz, October 8, 2025
- The Power of Prefabricated CLT Construction: Mines Park Village, Milender White, March 18, 2025
