CSU to expand vet school facilities, hospital with $278 million renovation

Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences recently announced a $278 million upgrade and expansion of its current vet school facilities on the university's south campus.

The new veterinary health complex, which is scheduled to break ground in early 2023 and be completed in 2028, will include an expansion of more than 300,000 square feet. The complex will have a veterinary education center and primary care clinic, and there will be renovations or expansions of current facilities, including a livestock teaching hospital and an animal specialty hospital. 

The school’s current teaching hospital off of Drake Road and College Avenue will be remodeled to become the animal specialty hospital. All work will be done in phases, so some elements will be completed prior to 2028. 

“Our college ranks among the world’s top institutions in veterinary and biomedical education and research,” said Sue VandeWoude, dean of the college, in the university’s release. 

“Our expansion plan for the south campus … will help us continue our tradition of excellence in the academic mission of teaching; the assessment of novel methods for training clinical students; and our research and service to the community.”

With the new buildings come curricula changes, too. The new facilities will give CSU what it needs to implement a new curriculum focused on educating “day one-ready” veterinarians using medical training along with training in “problem-solving, conflict resolution, decision-making and mental, physical and financial wellbeing,” according to a release from the university. 

CSU faculty said the new curriculum will be “among the most progressive in the world” and follow national recommendations to teach students more of what they would learn on the job, lessening the need for training for recent graduates. 

The buildings will also allow for bigger class sizes, which the university said will help meet growing demand for vets in the region and country. 

The plan was approved at the October Board of Governors meeting, though a financial review has not yet been presented and the board will have to approve financing before the project can begin.

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Molly Bohannon covers city government and Colorado State University for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter @molboha or contact her at mbohannon@coloradoan.com. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.