Experience Serenity: AHWC's Green Roof
Welcome to The Green Roof at the CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center!
The Green Roof at AHWC is an integral part of the campus environment, featuring a vibrant rooftop garden and a welcoming patio that offers sweeping views of the Front Range and breathtaking sunsets.
Managed by Green Roofs of Colorado, The Green Roof at AHWC not only enhances the aesthetics of our campus but also serves as a versatile venue and food production space. Green Roofs of Colorado was the initial installer of the gardens in 2012. Green roof expert and owner, Andy Creath and gardeners Brian Adams and Eliana Dzhikova bring an array of fresh ideas for the space, along with an intensive planting approach and organic practices to maximize our food production.
The Green Roof at AHWC also hosts a variety of special events, including rooftop yoga sessions and fitness gatherings, campus meetings, well-being retreats, and several other occasions, fostering wellness in a one-of-a-kind location. Come join us and experience a new level of wellness in our serene oasis.
Stay in touch! Sign up for our interest group using the form at the bottom of this page.
2024 Initatives
Lunch Lessons on The Green Roof at AHWC: Walking Tour of the CU Anschutz Campus Vegetable Gardens
Tuesday, September 24th, beginning at 3 p.m.
Cost: Complimentary; Sponsored by the CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center (limit 36 people)
Join the CU Anschutz Campus Horticulture Specialists on a walking tour of the CU Anschutz Campus, where you'll explore three unique vegetable gardens, each showcasing different aspects of urban agriculture. This tour not only highlights the beauty and diversity of urban agriculture but also underscores the CU Anschutz Campus's dedication to sustainability and community engagement. We will begin the tour on the Green Roof at the CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, followed by the UC Health Vegetable Garden at the Courtyard Café, and finally, the Healthy Roots Vegetable Garden at Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Each of these spaces are committed to improving fresh food offerings and nutritional education to the CUA Campus and surrounding community through a variety of public programs and distribution avenues. We will learn more about these operations as we view the gardens in-person. We will walk campus as a group, but maps, beverages and snacks will be available as we wander. We have allotted around 2 hours for this tour, but it may move more quickly. Please come prepared with clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather and walking conditions (1 mile of walking from start to finish of tour).
- 3:00pm meet at AHWC for Garden talk and tour overview
- 3:30pm-3:45pm walk to UCH Garden
- 4:00-4:30pm UCH Garden talk
- 4:30pm-4:45pm walk to UCH Garden
- 4:45-5:15pm CHCO Garden for talk & conclusion
If this class is full (link will be disabled), you may join the waitlist by using the form at the bottom of this page.
Sign Up
- Previous Classes:
- June: Transplanting Seedlings
- July: Embracing Native Lawns
- August: Succulent Workshop
Urban Agriculture:
The improved plantings and management of The Green Roof Vegetable Garden will provide fresh produce for groups on campus such as the Community Nutrition Programs, CU Anschutz Food Pantry, DAWN Clinic, and Aurora Wellness Community. Thanks to the team at Green Roofs of Colorado for providing extensive planting and maintenance of this exciting garden initiative.
Our current plantings include:
- Indeterminate Tomatoes (slicer & cherry)
- English Cucumbers
- Summer Squash
- Pattypan Squash
- Sweet Peppers
- Herbs: Basil, Rosemary, Oregano, Chives, Sage
- and more to come!
We are excited to announce The Green Roof at AWHC Image Gallery.
Did you visit The Green Roof at AHWC and snap a pic of some flowers in bloom, birds on the feeder or butterflies in the milkweed? Send us any photos that you'd like to show off in our image gallery. Simply email kristy.truesdale@cuanschutz.edu to contribute.
Check out the gallery below this box!
In an effort to enhance and expand its commitment to sustainability, the campus is teaming up with WOMPOST.
This collaboration aims to implement innovative waste management solutions, promote organic composting, and integrate eco-friendly practices.
Green Roof Image Gallery
The Positive Impact of Green Roofs
Excerpt by The Denver Botanic Gardens about the benefits of green roofs (November 13th, 2023): One of the most significant advantages of green roofs is their positive environmental impact. They act as natural insulators, reducing the energy consumption of buildings by moderating indoor temperatures. By absorbing carbon dioxide and filtering the air, vegetation on green roofs contributes to improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. They also mitigate the urban heat-island effect, lowering ambient temperatures in densely populated areas. This is particularly important in a city like Denver, where average temperatures are up to five degrees warmer than surrounding rural and suburban areas. Continue reading here...
Learn more about The Green Buildings Ordinance passed in Denver in 2018 (CU Denver News, July 28th, 2020): The Green Buildings Ordinance permits new buildings over 25,000 feet to choose from a series of nine green-energy options in these areas: green roofs/green space, solar/renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building certifications (third-party programs), payment to the Green Building Fund, and the Energy Program (for roof replacement). Continue reading here...
Reservations & Inquiries
Thank you for your interest in reserving The Green Roof at AHWC for your event. For events organized by a department on the CU Anschutz Campus, please submit all requests through EMS. Reservation requests and space guidelines:
- To book the green roof, you must reserve ALL relevant spaces: V08-3007 (Classroom), V08-3008 (The Benson Board Room), V08-3009 (Wellness Lounge) and The Green Roof in your reservation request. These spaces are tied together.
- If food is served, please place a housekeeping request for after-meal trash pick up
- Include a speedtype to charge the room fee and services
- You are responsible to for reserving any furniture and trash cans that your group may need
- You must leave the space clean and tidy as found, or a cleaning fee will apply
- Any furniture that is moved must be returned to its original location
- Any events including alcohol must follow campus protocols and approval process
- Catering can be delivered. Please direct catering to arrive on the 3rd floor. They do not need an access code for the elevator. There is no access to a kitchen in this space.
For additional questions regarding The Green Roof at AHWC please contact:
Kristy Truesdale at kristy.truesdale@cuanschutz.edu or Valentina Dean at valentina.dean@cuanschutz.edu