The Metro State Neighborhood is moving from concept to reality as the Dec. 3 groundbreaking for the Student Success Building nears.
According to Sean Nesbitt, director of facilities, planning and space management, there are a few details to have in place before then, but all is on schedule. “We are reviewing construction documents due at the end of October to the general contractor, Saunders Construction. But we have already locked into the guaranteed maximum costs, and we’re within budget.”
Site preparations begin the first part of November for the groundbreaking, says Nesbitt, but the campus community won’t notice any standing structures until mid-January. He says the contractors and Auraria administrators are meeting weekly to discuss parking logistics for the campus as well as placement of builder’s equipment. “They are looking at how the contractors will come in and out with minimal disruption to campus operations.”
The Student Success Building will be the first building on the Auraria Campus entirely dedicated to Metro State.
Nesbitt, who worked on the project management team for the Auraria Science Building Addition and Renovation project, says, “The Student Success Building general contractors and the architects have delivered on time, so I feel comfortable with the progress. It has been a really good process, but a new process for Metro State going at it alone.”
He says the feedback from the campus community, including the students, has been very useful. “More students have been attending the building committee meetings and providing positive comments about sustainability and ADA accessibility.”
Decisions have yet to be finalized about furniture vendors and open space collaboration areas. The next Building Committee meeting will be Nov. 4 (location still to be finalized) to review the furniture selection process for the open office areas.
Backfill Plan
Faculty members who have been working in the Administration Building will be moving back to the Science Building on Dec. 3, the same day as the groundbreaking. It will be the beginning of phase one of the backfill plan.
Top of Page
