University capital project request form

Requests are governed by a 10-phase construction process under the campus framework plan, The Denver Advantage, and the University's Capital Projects Policy. Projects Managers are assigned to incoming requests to ensure departments meet all code and legal requirements. This process aligns department construction requests with Office of the Provost, to position space enhancement and construction requests for greatest impact on student success.

Capital Projects are Developed in 10 Phases

1. Project Request Initiation and Concept Development – Ensure general understanding of the proposal and inform administrators of the intent of a project sponsor. To view construction schedule and three-month lead times, see Submitting a Capital Projects Request.
2. Feasibility Plan and Project Approval – Document in detail the concept developed in Phase I and develop the basic financial plan to provide thorough information for the approval group.
3. Project Planning and Design – Describe the requirements of a proposed initiative in such a manner that a professional consultant could prepare a proper design.
4. Architect Selection – Hire consultants necessary for the planning, design, and management of the capital construction project.
5. Schematic Design – Develop the concept and basic framework for the design of the project.
6. Design Development – Develop a rational plan to incorporate the program in a building form on the site.
7. Construction Documents – Develop the construction plan, process and site/material specifications.
8. Bidding and Negotiation – Review bids and negotiate terms with the general contractor to be hired.
9. Construction – Build the building and complete the construction work.
10. Warranty Period – Typically one year after completion, during which deficiencies are evaluated and addressed.

A Capital Project Request form initiates a feasibility review by DU Facilities Management & Planning (FMP) of your project request. The request can only be completed by authorized requesters and must be signed by your division leadership and financial officer. FMP Capital Projects & Office of the University Architect staff will review the scope and budget of your request. FMP will schedule a meeting with your team to ascertain if the project requires any additional considerations: building code, accessibility, technology, sustainability, and equity concerns. After the feasibility review, if the scope and budget are not reasonably aligned with the identified funding sources, FMP will refer the project back to your division for scope and/or budget revisions. After the projected scope and budget are reasonably aligned, the project request will be sent to the Office of the Provost and the Office of Budget & Finance for review along with other proposals across the institution, for consideration of programmatic priority. University Leadership review will occur at quarterly intervals aligned to submission dates and proposed start dates for construction. Allow three months lead time for the complete approval process for all project requests:

*All projects are reviewed and approved by senior leadership who may alleviate a project's timing to meet pressing University needs. Note: Project submission timeline reflects anticipated design and permitting effort based on project budget (scope complexity). Permitting with the City and County of Denver can take 13 to 16 weeks. After University Leadership approval, the project implementation phase will commence, initiating project design, finance, contractor selection, and scheduling.

If you have a space modification or construction project to submit for approval, you'll be assigned to a University Capital Projects Manager at Facilities Management & Planning. A Project Manager is assigned to ensure that the work a department wants to do meets all code and legal requirements and maintains University standards. Project requests requiring $5K or more in capital are governed by a multiphase construction Process for Capital Projects Process under the campus framework plan The Denver Advantage. This collaborative process aligns department construction requests with Office of the Provost, to prioritize space enhancement requests and construction projects that impact student success in our diverse organizations and communities. Refer to our Capital Projects Requests Guide to learn best practices and collaborate with your division to present a clear project scope and budget.