Western State College Breaks Ground on Student Housing Project
Western State College of Colorado broke ground in late June on a $16-million student housing project in Gunnison, Colo.
Representatives from Denver’s JE Dunn Construction, the general contractor, and Design West Architects, celebrated with WSC officials the start of construction on the 92,000-sq-ft Pinnacles student apartment complex, which will include 54 apartments and accommodate up to 226 tenants.
The project also includes demolition of outdated Coronado, Beckwith and Keating Halls and is expected to be complete before the 2012-13 school year.
The current design is planned to achieve LEED-Silver certification for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The state-of-the-art facility will include community rooms, a greenhouse and an onsite recycling center.
“This is an exciting time for Western,” said WSC President Jay Helman. “After more than a year of assessment, planning and design, we are eager to see the new student apartment complex take shape on campus.”
Once construction of the apartment complex is complete, the existing Shavano Residence Hall Complex will be demolished to make way for the $24.8-million recreation center/multipurpose fieldhouse currently being designed by Sink Combs Dethlefs Architects.
It will include an NCAA regulation-sized indoor track, multi-purpose interior courts, offices and classroom space. The scope also includes minor renovation of classroom, office and support space within the existing Paul Wright Gymnasium.
