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Mobile Workshop

Climate Change, Energy, and the Environment

National Western - Pursuit of Global Food Solutions

Monday, March 31, 2025
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM CT
Location: Mobile Workshop Departure Area
CM: 2
Ticketed Event Bicycle
Ticket Price: $52
By 2010, the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) had outgrown its facilities. The potential loss of the Stock Show was the catalyst for a renewed economic impact evaluation, and the NWSS developed a unique partnership with the City and County of Denver and Colorado State University (CSU) to reimagine the grounds as a year-round, vibrant destination.

The National Western Center partners have worked through extensive master planning, significant community outreach, a ballot initiative, successful public-private partnership agreements, and challenging site constraints (three rail lines, above-ground sewer pipes, contaminated land, multiple owners).

Construction is nearly complete on Phases 1 and 2. The new campus has year-round programs and events focused on food, agriculture, and culture, and features sustainability features like a wastewater heat-recovery district energy system. CSU Spur, a 300,000 square foot satellite campus, is complete and offers career exploration, research, and public-facing engagement with global challenges.

Learning Objectives:

  • Advocate for equity-based outreach, land use outcomes, and programming that improves the health and welfare of historically marginalized, at-risk neighborhoods through transparent and innovative communication and community planning efforts.
  • Explain the technical requirements for the site’s new heat recovery system and how this and other innovations form an educational hub rooted in outstanding community partnerships.
  • Align new campus opportunities in education, sustainability, climate, and food security with global policy development to affect change at the local, state, federal, and international levels.