Archway’s Mosaic Campus Earns Multiple Honors for Community Impact, Affordability, and Historic Preservation

Archway Communities’ Mosaic Community Campus in Denver was recognized in April 2025 with multiple awards for its transformative approach to affordable housing, historic preservation and community revitalization. These statewide and local honors mark a major milestone for Archway Communities and the adaptive reuse project’s many partners, underscoring the impact of collaboration and mission-driven development. 

Mosaic was named the 2025 recipient of History Colorado’s Governor’s Award at a recognition ceremony held April 2. The award was presented to Archway by Colorado Governor Jared Polis as part of the Stephen H. Hart Awards recognizing exemplary historic preservation projects in Colorado.

On April 9, Mosaic won a 2025 Mayor’s Design Award, presented by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, for an exemplary project providing affordable housing in existing buildings, and excellence in architecture, urban design, and placemaking. 

Additionally, Mosaic was a finalist in the Community Impact category at NAIOP (Commercial Real Estate Development Association) Colorado’s 38th Annual Awards of Achievement and was recently nominated for a Housing Colorado Eagle Award as an outstanding affordable housing project. These achievements reflect Archway Communities’ long-term commitment to building stronger communities across Colorado.

“Archway’s Mosaic Community Campus is so much more than housing. It’s a reflection of what’s possible when we put people and community at the center of development,” said Laura Brudzynski, CEO of Archway Communities. “We’re incredibly proud to be recognized for preserving this important piece of Denver’s history while creating a space where individuals and families can feel safe, supported and at home.”

The Mosaic Community Campus transformed historic dormitories from the former Johnson & Wales University, originally established as the Colorado Women’s College in 1909, into 154 income-restricted apartments. 

“The importance of preserving the site is not only for the architecture, but also for its role in women’s history,” said Sarah Kappel of History Colorado.

The project provides affordable housing for individuals and families earning 30 percent to 60 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), with on-site services like mental health support, a food pantry, after-school programs and job training through community partnerships. Since opening in October 2024, more than 97 percent of the apartments have been leased.

To achieve the high level or care and services offered, partnerships are key, added Brudzynski. “We also have education partners through Denver Public Schools and St. Elizabeth’s,” she noted, “and other partners like the Urban Land Conservancy, Kitchen Network, and Dirt Coffee.”

Additionally, Brudzynski said, Mosaic’s open space and historic quad will also stay open for both residents and nearby communities.

As part of the History Colorado recognition celebration, Brudzynski also served as a panelist at History Colorado’s inaugural “Preservation for a New Day: Panel and Community Conversations,” which explores how housing projects can honor both community and place while moving from concept to completion.

In addition to accolades for Archway Communities’ Mosaic Community Campus, Brudzynski recently was named a 2025 Colorado Titan 100, marking her second year among the state’s top executives recognized for leadership, vision and impact. 

In addition to the partners listed above, the Mosaic Community Campus was made possible through a collaborative effort with partners including Urban Land Conservancy, Shopworks Architecture, and Denver Housing Authority. The project leveraged funding from federal and state low-income housing tax credits, historic tax credits, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs Division of Housing, and Denver’s Department of Housing Stability.