DENVER (KDVR) — In a major step away from its history as a commuter school, Metropolitan State University of Denver has announced it is building its first university-owned student residence hall.

The hall will be on campus, and MSU Denver said that the project will "create a more vibrant and community-centric campus environment while also addressing concerns about the availability of downtown housing options for students." The building is part of MSU Denver's 60th anniversary celebrations.

“This milestone project is about more than bricks and mortar,” said MSU Denver President Janine Davidson, Ph.D. on Red, MSU Denver's in-house news publication. “It’s about transforming the student experience and reimagining what it means to be a Roadrunner in the heart of Denver. We’re creating a downtown campus where learning doesn’t end in the classroom; it continues where students live, work and connect.”

The university said that a third of MSU Denver students who responded to a recent survey commute over 40 minutes to get to campus, and over 70% of respondents who rent or live with family members said they would be interested in living on campus.

Anyone who has visited or been near the Metropolitan State University of Denver knows that finding a place to build a large building nearby would be a challenge, but the university says it has a spot in mind.

The university is planning to change its former baseball field into a 12-story, $117 million student housing building. The 2-acre lot is at 12th Street and Auraria Parkway, "across from Ball Arena."

MSU Denver said it expects the dorm to be completed in 2027.

“This student housing will be a game-changer for MSU Denver and downtown Denver,” said MSU Denver Trustee Jerry Glick on Red. “This investment brings students into the heart of the city, where they’ll live, learn and launch their careers — right across from Ball Arena. It’s a smart use of real estate and an even smarter investment in student success.”

The hall will include 550 student beds, retail space on the first floor, and a Classroom to Career hub on the second floor, which MSU Denver said is its signature workforce initiative to help students connect with career opportunities.

MSU Denver is also working on a second 12-story building with the Auraria Campus, to provide over 300 workforce housing units that would be offered to income-qualified residents, including campus community members. MSU Denver said the second building would also be home to the Auraria Early Learning Center, a child-care facility that's currently on the south side of campus.

“This project sets the tone for development west of Speer Boulevard, creating a vibrant, community-centered environment that connects campus and city through housing, academics and entertainment,” said Iván Anaya, president of the Mountain West division of Columbia Ventures, in MSU Denver's Red article.

MSU Denver will take on some debt for the project, but said it will be "repaid using revenue generated by the residence project itself." The second building will see more than $9 million provided through private donations, and an anticipated $6.6 million investment should come from the state of Colorado. The university said the residence halls will not impact student tuition or fees, or its operating budget, and said it will remain in a strong financial position.