Editor’s note: This article does not reflect possible changes due to COVID-19 in scheduling. Information will be updated as it comes in.

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is bringing new apartments to campus, which are projected to be finished before the start of the Fall 2020 semester.

“You want to be constantly staggering these things so that every building on campus doesn’t age out at the exact same time.”

The apartments have an estimated budget of $16.15 million, and will be able to hold 128 total students.

“Investments like this are made over decades. I think we would view this as a 30-year facility, and at that point you start thinking about [upgrades].”

Workers have moved past the MEP phase — mechanical, electrical and plumbing.

Shaw Construction, based in Grand Junction, is responsible for constructing the apartments.

CMU has toyed with the idea of creating an apartment for 21-and-overs in the past, but that will not be materializing for Aspen Apartments either.

Over 1,100 votes were cast for the name of the apartments in a poll in Oct. and Nov. 2019. Aspen Apartments came in first place, with 29.2 % (327) of the vote, followed by Juniper Hall, with 14.64% (164) of the vote. Elbert Apartments and Scenic Hall were the least voted for, and combined received 3.22% of the vote (16 + 20).

This is the first ever hybrid apartment at CMU – meaning that one meal swipe per day is built into the cost of staying there.