Hydro – The CSU SPUR Campus / Water Center
There are exciting plans underway along the river at the National Western Center. In 2015, the Colorado legislature provided state funding of $200 million for CSU to build three facilities at the National Western Center. The new Hydro building focuses on water and will offer everything from K-12 educational programs and exhibits, to lab space for food and water professionals and entrepreneurs, artist studios, and indoor and outdoor event venues. The space will be open to the community and includes a comprehensive river activation plan.
Hydro’s location will showcase the watersheds of Colorado through its landscaping and direct connection to the restored South Platte River. Sewer lines blocked access to the riverfront until they were replaced and buried in early 2021. The larger National Western Center will pull heat from the lines to generate up to 90% of the energy for the National Western Center campus. This sewer-heat recovery system will be the largest in North America.