For the first time since its founding 60 years ago, a prominent Denver college has announced plans to build a student housing facility.
The project belongs to the Metropolitan State University of Denver, which has its facilities on what is known as the Auraria Campus, an expanse of space it shares with the University of Colorado Denver and the Community College of Denver.
As proposed, what is being called the Summit House will have 12 floors and will go up on a vacant site near the intersection of Auraria Parkway and 11th Street.
The structure will feature both single and double rooms and is being built to accommodate up to 550 residents. The ground floor of the building will include food and beverage space.
Designer for the project is the Denver-based architectural firm of Shears Adkins Rockmore. It is expected that the new housing structure will cost around $115 million to complete.
With an enrollment of around 16,000 students, Metropolitan State University has always been a commuter school, and highly popular because it offers some of the lowest tuitions in Colorado.
Animating the new project: a recent study conducted by the school indicating that upwards of 70% of students would prefer to live on campus rather than commute.
Work on the project is scheduled to launch this summer with a fall 2017 completion date.
The Auraria campus is a span of some 150 acres and is the home to the historic Tivoli Brewery, which was built in 1882 and now serves as a student union.
July 1, 2025
By Garry Boulard
