Arapahoe Community College today announced plans to build a $40 million campus on a 14-acre site in the Meadows, a master-planned community in Castle Rock.
Dubbed the Collaboration Campus, the facility is in addition to ACC’s main campus in Littleton. It will be comprised of two 54,000-square-foot buildings, and will focus on delivering workforce training to students in Castle Rock.
The two-phase project’s estimated completion date is August 2019.
The Castle Rock Town Council this month approved an initial investment into the campus of $3 million. Colorado State University and the Douglas County School District will work with ACC to bring in local high school students and assist them with finding a college so they can earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
“The idea is, [say] you’re in high school, maybe you’re taking concurrent enrollment, … [you] can get [a high school] diploma, [you] can take courses at the campus under ACC and then immediately move into guaranteed transfer to CSU. And [you can be] doing it all in Castle Rock,” said Tina Griesheimer, spokesperson for ACC.
All three educational organizations — ACC, CSU and Douglas County Schools — collaborated with local businesses to determine the initial education offerings that will be offered at the center. Those offerings will be in:
- Business & entrepreneurship.
- Health care.
- Information technology/programming.
- General education.
- Workforce training.
Diana Doyle, president of ACC, said the school is expanding its presence in Castle Rock through this “very unique” education partnership.
“The Collaboration Campus will be a dynamic model for progressive educational delivery at all levels,” she said.
Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), said the goal is to provide higher education opportunities to students from the south metro area.
“This significant investment is an endorsement of the work of Arapahoe Community College and our partner school, CSU,” she said.
Both CSU and Douglas County Schools will lease space at the Collaboration Campus from ACC, providing students and local businesses resources and skilled workers through training, hands-on project work, internships, mentorship and clinical activities. Arapahoe/Douglas Works, ConneXion Spot and 3-D Printing will also lease space on the campus.
“True to its name, the campus will provide students with the opportunity to move from high school, to the community college level and then facilitates attendance at our Fort Collins campus, CSU-Pueblo or other four-year universities without ever leaving the region,” said CSU President and system Chancellor Tony Frank.
“This represents the best of what a 21 st century land-grant university should be doing — building shared solutions through education, research and leadership – as we connect the resources and assets of our university to this innovative learning concept,” he said.
ACC will use the initial $3 million investment from the Castle Rock Town Council for building permits and fees and land site improvements.
“This educational infrastructure is another step in our strategic plan to create a great environment and workforce pipeline for the attraction and retention of primary employers,” said Castle Rock Economic Development CEO Frank Gray. “We believe it will have significant impact as companies make location decisions.”
The rest of the money needed to build the $40 million campus “will come from ACC reserves, current student fees, like bond fees. We’re still getting the funds together. The foundation is working on stuff,” Griesheimer said.
ACC currently offers classes at a facility at 4700 Castleton Way, Ste. 100 in Castle Rock.
Caitlin Hendee is digital producer and social engagement manager for the Denver Business Journal and covers education. Email: chendee@bizjournals.com.
