Fitzsimmons Innovation Community

Structuring the Transition from Suburban Campus to Urban District

01 Observations & Analysis

The campus contained significant institutional strength but lacked a coherent urban framework capable of organizing growth.

Systems

• CU Anschutz Medical Campus as regional research anchor

• Sand Creek ecological corridor and regional trail network

• RTD rail station connecting the district to Denver

• Overscaled arterial roadways and legacy military grid

• Fragmented open space and campus circulation patterns

02 Patterns & Opportunities

To attract world-class talent, research institutions, and startups, the district required more than laboratory space. It needed civic infrastructure and a recognizable center.

Opportunities

• Establish a civic core for students, researchers, and the Aurora community

• Transform streets from auto corridors into walkable connections

• Organize open space into a connected civic landscape

• Create identity and gathering spaces for the innovation district

• Align growth with regional transit access

03 — Structuring the Future

The General Development Plan established the spatial and infrastructure framework necessary for the district’s next phase of growth.

Framework

• Urban street and block structure to support density

• Integrated civic open space network

• Multimodal mobility system linking campus and transit

• Development capacity expanded from 6M to 18M square feet

• Entitlement strategy supporting phased district growth

Client
Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority

Role
Urban Design, Master Planning and Entitlement Lead*

Team
Mobility
Fehr & Peers
Civil Engineering
Matrix
Public Finance Strae