Colorado College | Shove Chapel

Sacred Grounds Student Coffee House

Sacred Grounds was a remodeled classroom stuffed under the organ in Shove Chapel on the Colorado College Campus. It was an inelegant space loved only because it was out of the melee of College life and offered respite for a student to study or nap. We met with every interfaith group on campus to determine the use and need for this space that had long been a safe late night study spot. With 2 Colorado College student interns, we designed a flowing layers stepped space that was elegant and has become one of the most loved spaces on campus, hosting late night poetry readings, battle of the bands, story series, study groups, and support groups as well as a cozy screening room. Abandoned organ pegs became coat racks and deep windows became places for “nook-ing” which is when students stuff themselves into small places that are cozy to study.