The vast, open skies above Chico Basin Ranch are often filled with the graceful movements and cheerful songs of North America’s migratory birds. These feathered travelers find refuge and sustenance in the ranch’s mosaic of grasslands, wetlands, and mature cottonwoods—habitats that make this one of the most ecologically significant working landscapes in Colorado. Their seasonal return is more than a spectacle of nature; it’s a reminder of how the State Land Board’s trust lands sustain both wildlife and people.
In August 2024, the Colorado State Land Board approved a collaborative project with the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning and the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (BCR) to design and construct a new bird banding station at Chico Basin Ranch. Completed in August 2025, the project exemplifies how thoughtful partnerships can unite research, education, and design to benefit both the land and the students of Colorado’s public schools.
A Living Laboratory for Migration Research
Bird banding is an important tool scientists use to understand bird populations and migration. By safely capturing, banding, and releasing birds, researchers collect vital data about species health, habitat use, and migration routes. This information contributes to national databases that track changes in bird populations across continents.
For more than two decades, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies has operated a seasonal bird banding station at Chico Basin Ranch—one of just a few in Colorado located within a major migratory corridor stretching from Alaska to Central and South America. Each spring and fall, teams of biologists and volunteers gather on-site to record data that informs conservation efforts across the hemisphere.
Until recently, these activities were conducted out of a small, aging outbuilding. Volunteers often camped nearby in tents, contending with high winds and unpredictable weather. Educational programs for visitors and students were held outdoors beneath the cottonwoods, without protection from the elements. Recognizing these challenges, the State Land Board, BCR, and CU Denver joined forces to create a facility worthy of the important science conducted there—a building that is safe, functional, and deeply connected to the landscape around it.
Building Innovation with Purpose
The new Chico Basin bird banding station is more than a replacement—it’s a statement of innovation and sustainability. The structure is the first cross-laminated timber building in Colorado constructed entirely from locally harvested lumber, much of it reclaimed from wildfire mitigation projects and is featured as an innovative light-frame project on the Woodworks Innovation Network website. By using wood that the timber industry typically deems unusable, the team demonstrated how resourceful design can minimize waste while showcasing the beauty and strength of Colorado’s natural materials.
Students from CU Denver’s ColoradoBuildingWorkshop—a graduate-level design-build program—led the project from conception through completion. Under faculty and professional mentorship, students developed every aspect of the project: conducting site analyses, navigating building codes, creating design models, and fabricating the final structure. From the outset, they established guiding principles to shape their work: sustainability, connection to place, honest materials, and respect for the surrounding ecology.
The resulting building blends seamlessly into its surroundings. Light pours in through carefully placed windows, illuminating flexible spaces that can support both field research and environmental education. The simple yet elegant design reflects the purpose it serves: to deepen understanding of the natural world while treading lightly on it.
In September 2025, the Colorado Chapter of The American Institute of Architects, representing over 2,500 licensed architects, emerging professionals, architecture students, and allied professionals, announced that the building earned the Design Award of Excellence, its highest architectural award.
A Space for Science, Learning, and Connection
During bird banding seasons, the facility provides safe, functional space for researchers to record data, store equipment, and seek shelter during unpredictable weather. It also serves as a classroom for visiting students and bird enthusiasts eager to learn about Colorado’s role in global bird migration.
Outside of the banding seasons, the building welcomes visitors to experience the beauty and biodiversity of Chico Basin Ranch firsthand. Bird watching and nature-based recreation are growing parts of Colorado’s outdoor economy, generating billions in economic activity each year. By creating opportunities for people to connect with nature, the State Land Board helps inspire the next generation of conservationists—while ensuring that revenues from the land continue to support Colorado’s public schools.
Stewardship and Partnership in Action
The Chico Basin Ranch bird banding station is a model of what can be achieved through creative collaboration. It advances the State Land Board’s mission to protect and enhance the long-term economic and ecological value of Colorado’s trust lands while strengthening partnerships with academic institutions and conservation organizations.
From the student architects who designed it, to the scientists and volunteers who use it, this project represents a shared commitment to stewardship, education, and innovation. Together, these partners have created something lasting—a space where research, learning, and the rhythms of migration will continue to thrive under Colorado’s wide-open skies.