Welcome to Naropa University

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Lincoln Building

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Built in 1903, the Lincoln Building houses classrooms, the President's office, the Lincoln Gallery, and most notably a meditation hall, which is a fixture on all three of Naropa's Boulder campuses. Students may practice meditation through open and guided sessions in the space. They also have opportunities to engage in other contemplative opportunities such as free individual meditation instruction and by participating in Community Practice Day. Community Practice Day is a beloved biannual event that connects us with one another while we engage in diverse, contemplative practices offered by our fellow community members.

Arapahoe Green

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Boulder has over 300 days of sunshine a year, which makes the campus green a popular place to gather. The sycamore trees are a treasured part of our community, providing shelter, beauty, and inspiration to all. Facing into the green you'll see a powerful mural entitled "RISE," which was created by activist-artist Gregg Deal in 2019. The mural reflects Naropa's ethical responsibility to support indigenous justice. Our campuses sit on the land of the Arapahoe and Ute tribes, and it's our responsibility to develop an awareness of indigenous issues, practices that support indigenous peoples, and partnerships that serve indigenous communities. This mural serves as a physical reminder of our responsibility.

Allen Ginsberg Library

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The Library was dedicated to Allen Ginsberg, co-founder of Naropa University's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, in a ceremony in 1994. The collection consists of over 35,000 volumes and is a complete reference collection with concentration in the areas in which we offer majors. Naropa students also have access to Norlin Library at the University of Colorado, as well as the Boulder Public Library. There are additional satellite library locations at our other campuses.

The Pamela Krasney Pavillion

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The Pamela Krasney Pavilion, named in honor of longtime Naropa community member and supporter Pamela Krasney, is home to the Performing Arts Center. Commonly called "PAC," the space hosts major campus events, including guest speakers, convocations, performances, readings and recitals. A full-time tech staff supports the Center, and work-study positions at PAC are especially popular with our students. The Pavilion also houses the office of the Student Union of Naropa, known as "SUN." Its members work to empower the voice of the collective student body and act on its behalf. They assist student groups, plan parties, advocate for policy changes, organize workshops, and generally support our student body.

Center for Culture, Identity & Social Justice

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Created in response to a student-led racial justice protest held in the spring of 2015, the Center for Culture, Identity, & Social Justice exists to cultivate beloved community and is rooted in self-love, intercultural comradery and social justice engagement. In an effort to create a warm, supportive and vibrant home for community members from marginalized locations and their allies, the Center is designated for anti-oppression oriented activities and critical consciousness-raising. The Center houses many events, groups, and offerings, and welcomes Naropa community members to hang out, do homework, and share in the Center's mission.

Healing Garden

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The Healing Garden is nestled between the Greenhouse, Japanese Tea House, and the Bike Shack. The garden was constructed during the summer of 2021 in memory of a lost community member and is now part of a network of pocket gardens across our campuses, as part of a broader pollinator support project with the city of Boulder. The garden provides a place for reflection on emotions presented by grief. Through the creation of this intentional space to heal from loss by connecting with nature, Naropa is furthering its mission to help students engage courageously with a complex world and to transform that world through skill and compassion.

Naropa Bike Shack

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Naropa's student-run community bike shack helps the Naropa community with bicycle maintenance, repair, riding instruction, and support. It offers free repairs, tune-ups, safety checks and riding tips, as well as free or low-cost parts and accessories. The popular Earn-A-Bike Program is a service-learning program where participants learn how to build a bike from the ground up, and they get to keep their bike when finished. Boulder has been consistently ranked one of the top cities for biking in the US.

Japanese Tea House

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This authentic Japanese teahouse was built in the Rikyū style and given to Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche as a birthday gift from his students. Upon his death in 1987, Trungpa's family donated the teahouse back to Naropa. Volunteers who have been trained in the Urasenke tradition offer a weekly Japanese tea ceremony and instruction open to the Naropa community. Every aspect and nuance of the tea room and ceremony is carefully tended. From the way you fold the paper napkin, to the various forms of bowing that take place, to the side of the cup from which you sip, every single detail is aimed at maximal efficiency, aestheticism and perfection.

Residence Halls

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Welcome to the courtyard of the Snow Lion Residence Hall! Snow Lion is an apartment-style residence hall in Boulder's Goss-Grove neighborhood, just a short walk from the Arapahoe Campus. Each apartment is equipped with one or two bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and balcony. Nearby is Naropa's second residence hall, "2333." 2333 is a traditional style dorm with a communal kitchen and living space, and each room has a private bathroom. Our two residence halls deliver support and programming designed to enhance the academic experience and build community. Both residence halls have meditation rooms, laundry facilities, community areas, additional storage, wireless internet, and parking for bikes and vehicles.

Nalanda Campus

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Located in east Boulder, the Nalanda campus houses the arts as a central point in Naropa's mission of contemplative education. Major highlights of the building include the Nalanda Events Center, smart classrooms, art galleries and exhibit space, music facilities, video and media arts labs, a 3D sculpture studio, dance rehearsal spaces, and a beautiful meditation hall, which is a fixture on all of Naropa’s campuses. Students may practice meditation through open and guided sessions in the space. Nalanda was renovated in 2015, and all the materials – including energy efficient light bulbs, heating and cooling systems, furniture, carpeting and other materials – adhere to Naropa’s commitment to sustainability.

Pearl Street Mall & Boulder Creek Path

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Boulder's Pearl Street Mall is the heart of Boulder social life. Filled with unique shops and boutiques and some of the best restaurants in the state, Pearl Street gives students a taste of vibrant city life against the picturesque backdrop of the Flatirons. Pearl Street is two blocks from the Boulder Creek, which flows through the entire city of Boulder with walking paths and hiking trails alongside it. Community events and happenings occur throughout the year including the Boulder Creek Festival, Tube to Work Day, a Farmer's Market, and the annual Tulip Fairy, & Elf Festival!

Chautauqua Park

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Chautauqua Park is a portion of an iconic historic landmark dating back to when the City of Boulder began preserving wild lands over 100 years ago. The park land is adjacent to trails, Chautauqua Dining Hall and Auditorium and provides a playground, tennis courts, and open turf. Just ten minutes from Naropa's campus, Chautauqua is a great jumping-off point to the bountiful natural resources of Colorado, offering students a wealth of opportunities for hiking, climbing, skiing, snowboarding, cycling, kayaking, and more!

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