Photos by Jeff Foster

New UCCS sign on the corner of Austin Bluffs & Nevada during construction.

A 54-foot-wide, 13-foot tall, poured-concrete sign is being constructed at the corner of Austin Bluffs Parkway and North Nevada Avenue to clearly mark the western edge of the campus. The new sign is modeled after existing entrance signs to the university, but enlarged to meet the scale demanded by the corner.

"This sign will be similar in appearance to what is at Stanton and Meadow," said Brian Burnett, vice chancellor of administration and finance. "We needed a sign that shows the university's property and where it begins in the city."

The sign is made from conventional materials but with an unconventional twist. About 25 percent of the materials and skilled labor needed to create it were donated by community organizations, Phipps Construction, C and C Sand Co., and various tradesmen who work for Phipps.

"Without the donated materials, construction management services and labor, this wouldn't have happened," Burnett said. "We are deeply appreciative of so many people seeing the importance of this project and being willing to contribute to it."

While the sign will have a similar look to other UCCS entrance signs, its location demanded several changes. Because there were no nearby power lines, the sign will be lighted at night using energy collected by solar panels during the day. Also, C and C Sand reduced its cost for landscaping as part of its contribution. The area will have a rustic Colorado feel accented by boulders and relocated pine trees.

The project is scheduled to be completed in mid- to late-October with plans for a celebration thanking the donors to be announced at a later date.

"This is truly an example of lots of people with similar goals coming together to make something big happen," Burnett said.