A Place Where Learning Begins: Groundbreaking for the Merage Early Learning Center

For the David and Laura Merage Foundation, the work of building brighter futures has always started with the youngest learners. On June 4, 2026, the David and Laura Merage Foundation joined Auraria Campus leaders, community partners, donors and families to break ground on the new Merage Early Learning Center and workforce housing at the Auraria Campus. The 7-story facility will include affordable and market-rate apartments alongside a new state-of-the-art early learning center.

“Early childhood education has been a cornerstone of our philanthropic work for nearly two decades,” said David Merage, CEO of the David and Laura Merage Foundation. “This project reflects our deep commitment to ensuring that parents can focus on furthering their education, knowing their child is safe, cared for and learning in an enriching environment.”

The new facility will be named the Merage Early Learning Center, honoring the David and Laura Merage Foundation’s leadership investment and longstanding dedication to expanding opportunity for children and families. The 25,000-square-foot facility will expand childcare capacity by approximately 30 percent, serving parenting students, faculty, staff and community members. It will feature research-informed learning spaces, outdoor play environments, and a design built around exploration, creativity and connection.

The Auraria Campus is the largest collective college campus in Colorado, serving more than 43,000 students. For many of them, access to reliable, affordable childcare is the difference between completing a degree and leaving before the finish line. The new center directly addresses that reality, helping eliminate a persistent barrier to academic success while creating a nurturing environment where the campus community’s youngest members can thrive.

“In the heart of downtown Denver, on a campus shared by thousands of students working toward a better future, we are building something that will make our entire community stronger,” said Laura Merage, Co-Founder of the David and Laura Merage Foundation.

The project brings together a coalition of partners, including the Anschutz Foundation, Metropolitan State University of Denver, the Boettcher Foundation, Gary Community Ventures and the Gates Family Foundation, among others, united by a shared understanding of how profoundly early education shapes long-term outcomes for children, families and communities.

The Merage Early Learning Center is anticipated to open in early 2028.