Sustainable Village at Mines Park opens in Golden

GOLDEN, Colo. — The Colorado School of Mines has opened the Village at Mines Park, a newly redeveloped residential community that adds more than 1,000 beds of modern, sustainable housing for upper-division undergraduates, graduate students and students with families.

The university partnered with Capstone Development Partners and design-build team members Milender White Construction and SAR+ to complete the project, which combines renovation and new construction. The development replaces the former Mines Park apartments and is intended to meet growing on-campus housing demand while addressing aging facilities.

“At Mines, we recognize that the residential experience plays a vital role in student success,” said Kirsten Volpi, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Colorado School of Mines. “The Village at Mines Park was designed to provide a safe, welcoming and connected community that supports academic achievement and personal well-being.”

The $30 million project opened Aug. 1 and includes 1,058 beds — 560 of them newly added — through efficient apartment layouts that provide affordable housing close to campus.

The first phase of the project involved renovating 19 residential buildings and a community center, totaling 140,000 square feet and 400 beds. Renovations were completed in 11 months while maintaining about 65% occupancy to ensure continued access to affordable student housing.

The second phase included demolishing six older buildings and constructing five new ones totaling 284,000 square feet. The new apartments feature studio, two-bedroom and four-bedroom layouts. Building 5 includes a 7,000-square-foot common area with a café, a 2,000-square-foot fitness center, and offices for residence life and management. Outdoor amenities include a pedestrian plaza with amphitheater seating for student events.

The new buildings are all-electric and certified LEED Gold, using cross-laminated timber construction and offering 18 electric vehicle charging stations.

“This project is a shining example of what can be achieved through collaboration,” said Yvette Tetreault, former senior vice president of development at Capstone Development Partners. “We were able to deliver on time and under budget while enhancing the student living experience.”

The public-private partnership was financed by the university, with Capstone Management Partners overseeing facility maintenance and operations.

Milender White served as the design-builder, SAR+ as architect, and Capstone Development Partners as developer. The Village at Mines Park represents one of the largest student housing investments in the university’s history and is part of Mines’ broader effort to expand on-campus housing options and support student success.