Who: University of Colorado Colorado Springs leaders, construction contractors and representatives of the CU Board of Regents
What: UCCS will begin the first phase of construction on Village at Alpine Valley, a $74.5 million expansion to the university’s student housing. The expansion will include space for 515 more students to live in one, two, three, and four bedroom suite-style housing as well as a new dining complex and academic spaces.
When: 11 a.m. April 25.
Where: Westside UCCS campus near the current Alpine Village student housing in what was previously known as parking lot 9. Please see http://www.uccs.edu/map for details.
Why: A 2012 UCCS Strategic Plan identified need to construct more on-campus student housing to accommodate future enrollment growth at UCCS, one of the fastest growing campuses in Colorado. Plans call for the construction to occur in two phases. The first phase, scheduled to open in Aug. 2015, will include space for 292 students, a new dining hall and additional academic programming areas. A second phase, scheduled to open in Aug. 2016, will include space for 223 more students to live. When completed, UCCS will have space for 1,640 students to live on campus.
How: About 20 university and student leaders and general contractor representatives are expected to dig a few inches into former parking lot 9 and officially begin the two-year project to build the Village at Alpine Valley housing complex. CU Regent Kyle Hybl and Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak will lead the shovel brigade. Susan Szpyrka, vice chancellor, Administration and Finance, will serve as the event emcee.
Photographers and reporters are welcome to attend the event and to ask questions. Please contact Tom Hutton, (719) 255-3439, or Phil Denman, (719) 255-3732, for assistance with parking or directions.
