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His mission was to make RMCAD a “community of creatives” that would instill a passion for creativity, innovation, excellence, and lifelong learning in both the fine and applied arts. He sought to nurture the individual talents of each student, to integrate critical thinking and analysis into their skills, and to contribute in socially responsible ways to the local, global and professional communities.

Through the years, the college has grown in leaps and bounds, expanding our campus, our faculty, and the majors we offer. Now, next to the easels and palettes, you'll find computers and digital video cameras and alongside the life drawing classes you'll find courses in 3D animation, Computer-Aided Design and Game Art.

Much has changed in the nearly half century since the school was born, but more important is what has stayed the same: our commitment to giving each and every student the dedication, attention, and education they need to thrive.

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Over the years, the JCRS campus grew to become the largest free tuberculosis treatment facility in the world. Covering 148 acres and 34 buildings, the self-sufficient campus included a US Post Office, a Meteorological Station, and a working dairy farm.

Over the intervening decades, the once remote retreat was slowly surrounded by the city of Lakewood. By the mid-1950s the institution changed its mission to cancer research and became the American Medical Center. The AMC Cancer Research Center, as it is known today, still operates from a corner of our campus.

We’re told that patients and visitors to both the JCRS and AMC frequently said that the unique collection of lawns, gardens and buildings looked more like a college campus than a medical facility. We agreed, and purchased the site in 2002.

Great care and consideration has been taken to preserve the history of our campus, while modernizing each building to serve the needs of our art and design students. As technology progresses, our renovations continue as we strive to offer even more facilities and opportunities to our students each year.

Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is proud to have served as one of the nation's premier art and design institutions since 1963. We have created a place filled with great joy, enlightenment and creativity. One where we plan on nurturing the talents and abilities of artists, designers and visionaries for generations to come.