At CU Denver, we study, teach, and work at a special place rooted in deep history. From the Indigenous Peoples who first settled here to the Aurarians who built a thriving neighborhood starting in the 1870s, we must honor those who came before us.

And we are. In 2023, we acknowledged the 50th Anniversary of CU Denver’s founding, and we also marked the same anniversary of the displacement of our former Aurarian neighbors.

Building on our progress to expand the Displaced Aurarian Scholarship Program, we embarked on an important project with our AHEC partners to preserve and renovate historic homes along Ninth Street—as well as define their usage—as one important way to honor and celebrate our history as we build our collective future.

For CU Denver, this critical work is being facilitated by Nolbert Chavez, an alum, our chief of external initiatives, and a CU Regent.

The Centennial House at 1050 Ninth Street was the first of the houses to begin renovations, and it has recently seen significant updates and improvements to the infrastructure of the home. We will continue to provide updates, milestones, and opportunities for community engagement as the project evolves.