University of Denver Spring 2026

NEWSROOM

Integrative Life Sciences Complex Takes Shape

The University of Denver has reached an important milestone in its pursuit of carbon neutrality, completing Colorado’s first off-site net metering solar energy project in partnership with Denver-based renewable energy provider Pivot Energy. The 3.28-megawatt project, located in Johnstown, Colorado, began producing 100% local renewable energy earlier this year—a first-of-its-kind achievement made possible by Senate Bill 21-261, a state law passed in 2021 that expanded access to off-site solar generation for organizations with multiple meters or space constraints. The law allows universities, businesses, and hospitals to receive bill credits for electricity generated at off Construction continues on the newest addition to the DU campus, the Integrative Life Sciences Complex. Formerly called the STEM Horizons project, the space has been renamed to better reflect the wide-ranging work that will happen inside its striking glass exterior. Slated to open in fall 2027, the five-story, 87,000-square-foot building will be a hub of scientific discovery and collaboration. The top four floors will house research laboratories for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates, while the first floor will include five new undergraduate learning laboratories— spaces every DU undergraduate will have the opportunity to experience. “The Integrative Life Sciences Complex will be a game changer for us,” says Chancellor Jeremy Haefner. “The faculty who will be working in the building and in the labs are answering questions at the very heart of scientific advances. But the best part is our students

will have the opportunity to work on these important questions alongside faculty, sparking the next generation of scientific curiosity and progress.” The complex will open alongside upgraded life science labs in the Boettcher West and Seeley G. Mudd buildings, supporting DU’s R1 designation by meeting the needs of today’s scientists while preparing future generations of researchers. Open-concept spaces will put students and faculty in closer contact, enabling richer mentorship—and housing both biology and chemistry under one roof will foster greater exchange between lab groups, says Corinne Lengsfeld, senior vice provost for research and graduate education. “It’s going to give students a mixture of different skill sets, and that is going to create a lot of new ideas,” Lengsfeld says. “It will be fabulous for the students, and it’s going to be fabulous for the science.”

A Solar Milestone for DU—and Colorado

site locations, removing barriers that have historically limited on site solar development. The Johnstown site comprises approximately 7,000 solar panels— enough to power the equivalent of 760 average sized homes—and is

the first of six planned off-site projects across Adams, Mesa, and Weld counties. Together with on-campus installations, DU’s full portfolio with Pivot Energy will

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | SPRING 2026