Vice chancellor says university can no longer afford to subsidize think tank

ASPEN REAL ESTATE  - The Given Institute, a scientific think tank established by Aspen visionary Elizabeth Paepcke 37 years ago, will shut down next year. The property's owner,the Regents of the University of Colorado, is looking to sell the West End property.Richard Krugman, the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, said Monday the school is in discussions with potential buyers.The 2.25-acre property, at 100 East Francis St., was appraised last year for $12.5 million. Krugman said the university needs a minimum of $20 million to keep the facility and its programs operating.The school has been trying for the past eight years to raise funds to renovate the aging building, which has become too expensive to maintain in recent years.And with little funding for higher education and budget cuts, the university can no longer continue to operate the 12,000 square feet of meeting space and related facilities — let alone renovate them.
By Carolyn Sackariason, Dec. 22, 2009 Aspen Times

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