Modernity marries traditional craft to become a vessel of connectivity and visibility. Spaces are delicately interlinked to cater to the energetic design culture. Inside, the staircase is the main feature. When immersed in the Nest, one will live in a million moments. Social spaces spring out of the Nest and can be observed from any floor throughout the building. This is a playground for the mind, without boundaries.

The central hub contains “rooms” built into the staircase, which branches off, flowing onto the five floors. Three columns act as trees holding up the staircase. Because of the openness of the Nest program, studios and social interactions will be apparent from everywhere inside the building and out, intriguing passersby to stop and stare. Students are inspired to create serendipitous social interactions that spark creativity.

The building was reborn to preserve the traditional Klauder style, while adding a brave, yet humble twist, to showcase the hustle and bustle of young designers. Nodding to its vernacular ancestry, the new roof, with its five gables, is fastidiously draped in terracotta tiles. Various window sizes and heights were curated to allow students to inhale all views of campus and the mountains beyond. The Nest offers an unashamed loyalty to wood, as a nest in nature would. A geometric tile facade speaks of earth and sky and the rich colors of the University of Colorado’s architectural nostalgia.