Colorado State University’s New Veterinary Health and Education Complex to Expand Veterinary Education Resources
July 15, 2025 – Fort Collins, Colo. — Across the country there is a growing need for veterinarians and veterinary care, and Encore Electric is powering Colorado State University (CSU) to meet this growing demand. On the south boundary of CSU’s veterinary campus, Encore Electric is working on the CSU Veterinary Health and Education Complex and CUP (Central Utility Plant) expansion project that will expand veterinary education resources.
Encore Electric is responsible for building all electrical work within the expansion, including electrical work needed to power temporary building structures and renovations to existing structures prior to the primary expansion project. At the project’s peak, Encore Electric will have more than 20 electricians on the job.
The 200,000-square foot, $230 million addition to the teaching hospital will bring a primary care center, additional classrooms, lecture halls, exam rooms, and treatment areas including surgical space for students to gain an immersive learning experience preparing them to be veterinary professionals. The facility mirrors the capabilities of a traditional human hospital, but with the ability to provide quality care to both domestic and exotic animals.
Additional classrooms in the VHEC will be equipped with lab tables and lights to facilitate hands-on learning. The vet hospital addition also features two large auditoriums outfitted with high-end finishes to support lectures, conferences, and large-format instruction.
The CSU Veterinary Health and Education Complex and CUP project required a high level of preconstruction, planning, and coordination by the Encore Electric team to ensure the proper electrical infrastructure is built to power the highly technical education complex. Once built, the electrical infrastructure will be critical to powering modern educational and veterinary healthcare tools. During construction, following the detailed preconstruction plan and collaboration with project and university partners has been key to maintaining minimal disruption to the operating campus.
Construction of the hospital expansion has encompassed several interconnected phases. Prior to construction of the addition, Encore Electric teammates renovated a few key departments in the existing hospital, including animal dentistry and imaging, and supported the relocation of other utility infrastructure to accommodate the new layout.
While preparing spaces for students and university staff to continue operations throughout construction, the project team also constructed large paddocks to safely relocate all outdoor animals away from the active construction zone, ensuring the well-being of the animals onsite throughout the project.
“This project involves expanding an active veterinary hospital, requiring careful consideration of the impact construction may have on animals, pet owners, and university personnel,” said Tom Syltie, Encore Electric Project Manager. “Encore Electric maintains a strong working relationship with university staff and collaborates closely with all stakeholders to minimize disruptions to daily operations. This partnership ensures that critical hospital functions and the well-being of both animals and people remain a top priority throughout the construction process.”
In addition to providing advanced medical care, the facility is designed to support a high volume of students.
“Beginning in 2026, the VHEC project will allow the college to admit an additional 30 veterinary students into each class, adding more highly skilled clinicians to the workforce — a significant need in Colorado and across the country. Specific to underserved communities, there are 237 rural regions in 47 states experiencing critical shortages of veterinarians (…)“ said Christopher Outcalt in the blog post, The Future of Veterinary Medicine.
The new education center and expanded CUP is one of multiple projects at CSU that reinvest in veterinary programming, including the C. Wayne McIlwraith Translational Medicine Institute (TMI), another project the Encore Electric team contributed to.
With expected completion in the spring of 2026, Encore Electric teammates and other project partners continue to make progress on the CSU Veterinary Health and Education Complex.
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