EAC co-produced the Opening Celebration for the TREExOFFICE (TXO) on the University of Colorado-Boulder (CU) campus, thanks to the support of CU Campus Landscape Architect Richelle Reilly, the CU Program in Environmental Design (ENVD) and the CU Community Engagement, Design, and Research Center (CEDaR). The event celebrated TxO’s move from Boulder’s Civic Park to campus; honored the ENVD students and faculty who designed and built TxO, and introduced CU neighbors to each other from surrounding centers and programs, many for the first time.

The TREExOFFICE was inspired by visiting artist Natalie Jeremijenko to help people re-think their relationship to nature. It was designed and built by CU ENVD students under the guidance of faculty member Marcel de Lange, and, on campus, managed by CEDaR. TxO CU offered a new outdoor open office with wifi, a study zone, meeting place, performance stage, discussion platform, and gathering spot.

The Opening Celebration included presentations by people from ENVD, CEDaR, and TxO CU neighboring entities: ASAP (Academic Success and Achievement Program); Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment; the Idea Forge, Residence Life; SASC (Student Achievement Success Center); and Theatre & Dance; followed by music and participatory folk dancing performed and led by Sherefe and beetle costumes/sculptures created by Emma Hardy with high school students and others.

TxO was part of DESIGNxBOULDER, a project initiated by EAC and co-developed and co-presented in collaboration with the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Environmental Health Clinic, and CU ENVD, and numerous community partners including BLDG61: Boulder Library Makerspace, DragonDev, Living Design Studios, simPRO Software, Studio NYL, and TruePoint Laser Scanning, among others.

Special thanks to forester Rajesh Rajchal and CU arborists Vince Aquino and Brad Albus for identifying and caring for the Linden tree, genus Tilia, which TxO surrounds; to Theatre & Dance faculty Peg Volpe Posnick and Nii Armah Sowah; to ENVD volunteers and Susan Glairon, Emily Lawrence, Gabriella MacDonald; and to EAC volunteer Ryan Bielecki.