Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Springs

Colorado Mountain College’s Glenwood Springs campus opened in 1981 as the first public, passive-solar facility to receive a large grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The building’s design centers on nearly 1,500 square feet of south-facing glass and a masonry Trombe wall that radiates heat in winter and retains it during summer. Recent renovations have replaced original wood siding with structurally insulated panels, swapped floor-to-ceiling windows for low-emissivity tinted glass, and added Trespa rain screen panels to prevent moisture intrusion. The front desk features bark-beetle-kill wood paneling, while drinking fountains now include bottle fill stations to reduce plastic waste. An electric vehicle charging station sits on campus, and student-led recycling and composting bins are distributed throughout the facility. The college offers a broad range of credit and non-credit classes available during the day and at night. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1, CMC Glenwood Springs provides affordable education aimed at preparing students for in-demand jobs. In 2021, the institution received federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, making it eligible for additional grant funding that benefits all students. The campus is conveniently located in town and remains a hub for hands-on learning in the mountains.