Building Vision

Colorado State University’s Veterinary Health and Education Complex will enhance world-class veterinary care, right here in Colorado.

Destination Veterinary Health Campus

The world faces an unprecedented shortage of veterinary healthcare professionals. Our region has an especially fast-growing veterinary market due to increasing population, a high standard of living, and a culture of animal companionship. Combined, these factors fuel the need for a state-of-the-art facility.

Specifically, we will increase veterinary student enrollment by 20%. The first incoming class following construction of the complex will grow from 138 to 168 students, with the full program growing from 600 to 720 students. This will also open space for more than 275 undergraduate biomedical sciences and other students on CSU’s main campus.

Not since the first veterinary classes began in 1883 has CSU had the opportunity to reimagine the future of veterinary education and the profession on this scale. Our new Veterinary Health and Education Complex will centralize all veterinary courses and activities on a single campus, enabling us to advance animal healthcare through integrated education, clinical practice, and applied clinical research in one location.

Estimated capital cost for the new construction as part of the VHEC is $230 million, donors can support our vision of excellence by investing in VHEC through a variety of named spaces and facility enhancements. Your contribution to this project is not just an investment in the people and animals it will serve but also in the limitless potential of research discoveries and life-saving treatments that await us.

Construction Updates

Significant progress continues with the ongoing installation of concrete and steel. The new building’s full height is becoming more visible each day. Over the coming months, steel beams will be regularly added, connecting the new structure to the existing hospital, marking an important phase in the project’s development.

September 9, 2024

Time-lapse video of the Veterinary Health and Education Complex construction through September 2024.

Building Renderings

News and Updates

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Stanton Foundation enables ‘Spectrum of Care’ programs at CSU with $4.5M gift

It is the largest gift to the Veterinary Health and Education Complex to date and will help the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences lead the world in delivery, teaching and research around “Spectrum of Care.”

Denver Post: Colorado running short on veterinarians as number of pets increases

To meet the demand for veterinary service, whether in rural areas or at Denver-area clinics, CSU plans to expand its facilities and programs on the Fort Collins campus. The first phase of what’s been dubbed the Veterinary Health and Education Complex, or VHEC, will include a new primary care center and a new livestock veterinary hospital.

5280: Can Vet Techs Help Cure Colorado’s Vet Shortage?

Last year, CSU completed a survey of more than 700 veterinary care professionals in Colorado; 67 percent of them reported having to turn away patients every week because they’re too busy. Colorado is boosting care for pets by increasing incoming veterinary students that will be accommodated by the 2026 completion of the CSU Veterinary Health and Education Complex.

Fox 31: CSU breaks ground on new veterinary complex as industry faces challenges

Colorado State University hit a major milestone Thursday after breaking ground on a new Veterinary Health and Education Complex. This $230 million project is aimed at positioning CSU to be the leader in veterinary medicine. The build comes at a crucial time for the industry that faces a statewide veterinarian shortage and mental health crisis.

Photo gallery: Veterinary Health and Education Complex Groundbreaking Celebration

Colorado State University hosted a groundbreaking celebration May 2 to mark the start of construction on its new Veterinary Health and Education Complex, a $230 million expansion of the veterinary medicine and education facilities on the university’s South Campus in Fort Collins.

AVMA News: Number of NAVLE test takers increase as overall scores decrease

In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis announced a plan on February 12 to have the state provide $50 million in funding toward Colorado State University (CSU)’s new Veterinary Health and Education Complex. The CSU System Board of Governors has already approved a $230 million upgrade and expansion of the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, allowing the university to add 30 veterinary students to its incoming class in the fall of 2026, increasing the class size from 138 to 168.

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