When Chris Seuss, Executive Director of Campus Construction, looks across the Charis Bible College campus in Woodland Park today, he sees more than buildings. He sees more than a decade of growth, planning and vision brought to life.

"I've seen all of the changes," Chris said.

Chris has been part of Charis for 13 years and has witnessed the transformation firsthand. What many visitors know today as a growing college campus began with the purchase of the Woodland Park property in 2009 and construction of The Barn in 2012. Faculty, staff and students moved into the facility in January 2014, marking the beginning of a new era for the college.

Since then, the campus has continued to expand. The Auditorium, a 3,000-seat event and educational facility, opened in 2018, and new student housing developments are helping accommodate continued enrollment growth. Today, Charis serves more than 1,100 students and is planning for additional expansion in the years ahead.

Supporting that growth requires more than new buildings. It also depends on reliable infrastructure.

With nearly 300,000 square feet of facilities on the main campus and additional operations elsewhere, maintaining comfortable learning environments for students and staff is a daily responsibility.

"When you have buildings operating every day and some functions running around the clock, you need dependable energy," Chris said. "We need to keep the buildings warm, keep the water hot and keep everything working."

Natural gas plays an important role in making that happen. From heating classrooms and offices to providing hot water for campus facilities, dependable natural gas service helps support the day-to-day operations that students and employees rely on.

For Chris, having a strong utility partner is just as important as having reliable service.

"I expect responsiveness and to be heard," he said. "I want a partner who comes alongside us and helps us understand what is coming and how we can prepare."

As Charis continues to add student housing and plan for future facilities, reliable energy infrastructure remains an essential part of supporting long-term growth.

While students may never think about the systems operating behind the scenes, Chris knows their experience depends on them. Reliable natural gas helps create the comfortable, dependable environment that allows students to focus on learning, building relationships and preparing for their future.

As the campus continues to grow, Black Hills Energy is proud to help provide the energy that keeps Charis moving forward