CMU alumnus plays large role in hotel construction
Before the doors even open, an estimated 300 people have played a part in building Colorado Mesa University’s new teaching hotel, Hotel Maverick. The project has come a long way since breaking ground in October 2018 and Shaw Construction Project Engineer and CMU alumnus Logan Cole has overseen the construction operations every step of the way.
When Cole first came to Grand Junction from Durango to attend CMU in 2011, he had no idea he would major in construction management — let alone be part of growing the very campus he learned on.
“This is now my fourth project at CMU. I graduated and then I went right over to help build the Health Sciences Building and then to Confluence Hall. It’s cool. It’s been years and I’m still driving here every morning even though I graduated,” said Cole.
According to Cole, Hotel Maverick is a unique project with interesting architectural features. He's especially looking forward to when the public will get to experience the fourth level patio.
“Once there are tables out there and the restaurant is set up, it’s going to be a really cool place to go and enjoy a regional meal.”
Hotel Maverick was designed to include a restaurant rooftop experience like none other in the Grand Valley, and it will surely live up to the hype.
“When the Hotel Maverick opens this spring it will immediately be one of Grand Junction’s premier destinations. We can’t wait to share the stunning design and the unmatched views from the Devil’s Kitchen Restaurant with the community and guests visiting the area and university,” said Hotel Maverick Project Coordinator Donald Schuster.
In addition to serving the community as one of the only boutique hotels in the area, Hotel Maverick will serve the mission of the university as the only hospitality teaching facility in western Colorado.
“One of the most exciting parts of this project are the opportunities it will create for our students in hospitality management and culinary arts," said CMU President Tim Foster. "They'll gain an incomparable competitive advantage through hands-on experiences, and they will be some of the best prospective employees for regional, statewide and global employers in the hospitality industry.”
Construction of the hotel is nearing the end with the final touches coming together. Cole and his team are adding concrete areas to the northside of the hotel, putting in sidewalks and, by March, they’ll start landscaping.
“It’s always a great feeling when a big project is almost done. We have been out here working as a team for over a year, so getting to the end it feels good,” said Cole.
CMU is the second university in Colorado to build its own hotel, and the first in western Colorado. The Hotel Maverick is expected to open in late spring.