WINDSOR — Aims Community College topped off its expansion of its Windsor campus with a beam signing ceremony last week followed by lifting of the beam into position on the new academic building.

The project is budgeted to cost $18 million. When completed, it will add classroom space and a simulated city to the Public Safety Institute training yard. The building will be three stories and 38,000 square feet.

The training yard will be made available to public safety students and professionals. The yard will include two houses, a commercial building, streets, intersections and a search-and-rescue building to practice navigating in narrow spaces.

Leah Bornstein, president and CEO of Aims, spoke at the topping out ceremony. 

“After so much time dreaming and planning, we are finally getting closer to completing our new academic building and simulated city. These new facilities not only expand the size of our Windsor Campus and the physical acreage of the college as a whole — they expand our ability to serve and teach more students; to create more local educational opportunities in Windsor and Northern Colorado,” she said.

“New facilities go up often around here, and it can be easy to take them for granted, but what’s being built here today will truly make a difference in the world,” said Lyle Achziger, chair of the board of trustees. “I’m incredibly proud that Aims trains and educates those who will save lives, innovate, and facilitate progress in many businesses and industries.”

Construction began in March 2022, and Aims officials estimate completion in spring 2024.