The Capital Development Committee (CDC)of the Colorado State Legislature today voted unanimously to approve the construction of Metro State’s Student Success Building and Hotel Learning Center.

Any building to be constructed on public property falls under the purview of the CDC, whether public funds will be used or not.

In Metro State’s case, neither building will require state funding. The Student Success Building will be funded by a student fee that was approved by Metro State’s student body by a vote of 53 percent to 39 percent as part of last week’s Student Government Assembly election. (To read more go to http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/publish/studentfee_twv6042209.shtml.) The building is to be the anchor of the Metro State Neighborhood on the 8.5 acres of campus between Seventh and Ninth sts. along Auraria Pkwy.

The Hotel Learning Center, planned for the southeast corner of Auraria and Speer blvds., will be a partnership between Metro State and a private corporation. The HLC will include a 200-room hotel and conference center, as well as 21,000 square feet of academic space for the College’s Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Events. When completed, it will be one of only 11 such facilities in the country and the only one located in an urban hub.

Next up for the proposals is the Joint Budget Committee, which also must approve the construction of each building. The JBC most likely will review the proposals at their June quarterly meeting, unless they can be placed on the agenda of the JBC’s last meeting before the session ends May 6. JBC approval must be obtained before the bonding process can begin in July at the start of the new fiscal year.

If approved, the buildings will be included in the state’s 2010-11 budget as an informational item only.

“I’m pleased that our plans are garnering legislative support,” says President Stephen Jordan. “I am confident that the next step in the process with the JBC will also be favorable.

“Both these buildings represent tangible strides toward national preeminence and will mark significant accomplishments in Metro State’s history.”

The buildings will be discussed as information items at the Metro State Board of Trustees Finance Subcommittee meeting on April 28 and at the full BOT meeting on May 6.