CSU breaks ground on new veterinary complex as industry faces challenges

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (KDVR) — Colorado State University hit a major milestone Thursday after breaking ground on a new Veterinary Health and Education Complex.

This $230 million project is aimed at positioning CSU to be the leader in veterinary medicine. The build comes at a crucial time for the industry that faces a statewide veterinarian shortage and mental health crisis.

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CSU President Amy Parsons is excited about the new step.

“We are planting very powerful seeds here today and the future of veterinary health,” she said.

The veterinarian shortage is something Gov. Jared Polis addressed in his remarks after the groundbreaking.

“We’re particularly excited for the statewide benefit. We will be able to successfully train a third more veterinarians in each class when we suffer from a significant veterinary shortage,” Polis said.

The completed project will include:

• A teaching hospital for routine and urgent care

• A new livestock veterinary hospital, fully equipped with medical, surgical and ambulatory facilities built to meet current and future demands for large animal care

• Reimagined classrooms with interactive workstations

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Veterinarians are two to four times more likely to die by suicide. The statistic was top of mind for those designing this new facility.

“A nod goes to our architect team for creating spaces where people can gather and be together, and a big focus on wellness and sustainability throughout this project,” said Kelly Hall, an associate faculty member. “The beauty is we’re bringing our first- and second-year veterinary students that are on the main campus into the same physical structure, so having those opportunities to create networks, conversations, the use of windows for sunlight, the use of spaces where we can have quiet space together and active space together.”

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This is the first well-certified veterinarian school in the nation. CSU is working to radically flip the script within the curriculum too.

“The curriculum is actually beautifully built as well to build in time for the students when they’re not focused on curriculum, but finding time to have those conversations, that becomes that network and skillset that they carry forward wherever they end up practicing,” Hall said.

The complex is slated for completion in fall 2026.

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