Living & Learning in Denver

Ranked #1 in U.S. News and World Report's Real Estate section's "Top 20 Best Places to Live in the U.S."

Colorado is ranked the fourth happiest state in the nation based off purpose, liking what you do each day and being motivated to achieve your goals, social relationships, financial security, community, liking where you live, feeling safe and having pride in your community, and physical health.

Urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure in Denver. Get acquainted with The Mile High City and what will make you love living and learning here including ideal location, transportation, arts and culture, recreational living, and more!

The Mile High City

The University of Colorado Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning (CAP) is part of the Auraria Campus, home to one fifth of all higher education students in Colorado. The campus is shared by CU Denver, Community College of Denver, and Metropolitan State University of Denver, which means we have access to tri-institutional entities with greater resources, such as the library, bookstore, early learning center, LGBTQ student services office, and a world-class performing arts facility.

Unbeatable Location

CAP’s newly renovated building near the heart of campus is situated in Denver’s lower downtown (LoDo), a historic district of brick buildings filled with dwellings, vibrant shops, restaurants, bars and galleries.

 Urban Center

Denver is a metroplex of 3.6 million people. It is the largest urban center in a 500-mile radius and serves as the cultural, intellectual and economic capital of the expansive Rocky Mountain region.

 Outdoor Mecca: The Rocky Mountains

Denver sits at the edge of the Rocky Mountains, one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world. The mountains provide valuable natural and strategic resources as well as abundant recreational amenities including some of the world’s top ski resorts including Breckenridge, Winter Park, Vail, Beaver Creek, Crested Butte, Aspen and more. The Rockies also present interesting challenges for designers and planners working in this region, who have to manage continued population growth while protecting Colorado’s fragile ecosystem.

Easy Transportation

Denver is one of the first cities in the United States to launch a European-style bike-sharing program with 80+ automated stations around town. Many students ride to school, or use the “Eco-pass” on the bus and light-rail network with its stations a few blocks away.

Home To Professional Sports

Denver is home to professional teams including the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and the Colorado Rapids.

Activities & Attractions

More activities and attractions in Denver including information museums, concerts, parks and more!

Arts & Culture

Denver's cultural scene includes everything from performing arts, live entertainment, and renowned museums and buildings by noted architects the, including Denver Art Museum, Clyfford Still Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art and History Colorado Center along with specialty museums celebrating nature and science, outdoor arts, children, transportation, air and space, miniatures, dolls and toys, and the Black American West Museum and Museo de las Americas - Latin American Art Museum.

Some of our other favorite art and cultural destinations include:

  • Red Rocks Amphitheater, a favorite venue for musicians and fans
  • Denver Performing Arts Complex
  • International Film Festival

Find additional arts and culture events in Denver

Design & Architectural Destination

Close Proximity to Professional Communities

Adjacency to a sophisticated city makes it convenient for professional designers and planners to participate in our program, bringing relevant professional experience directly into our design studios and seminar classes. These professional firms and agencies also provide CAP students abundant opportunities for internships and employment.

Attentive to Planning and Designing

Denver benefits from a legacy of civic investment and progressive planning, and is seen as a national model for innovation in contemporary planning and design. Some of the biggest national and international names in the field, including David Adjaye, Jeanne Gang, I.M. Pei, Michael Graves.

Daniel Libeskind and Brad Cloepfil, have or are currently designing important buildings for the city. Gio Ponti’s only building in North America is the Denver Art Museum’s Welcome Center.

Green Living: Recreation & Health

 Access to Parks

The Cherry Creek recreation trail connects to almost 850 miles of paved bike paths throughout the metro area. It has the largest city park system in the United States; including the Denver Mountain Parks; its total park acreage would cover the entire island of Manhattan in New York.

 Healthy City

Denver is one of the healthiest cities in the nation, according to a recent study. The Mile High City ranks ninth in WalletHub’s new report “2021’s Healthiest & Unhealthiest Cities in America.”

 Sustainable Policies

The City and County of Denver again in 2012 ranked #4 out of 54 of the nation’s largest cities for its sustainable policies, programs and activities by the national sustainability advocacy group Our Green Cities.