The five-story academic building will have 181,000-sf. It will be constructed of limestone, sandstone and be capped by DU's signature copper roof. The facility is scheduled to open in fall 2002.

A second phase, scheduled to open in 2003, will include a three-story atrium that will include a 1,000-seat concert hall, a 350-seat modular stage used by the DU theater department and a 250-recital hall. The project also will include two adjacent parking garages with a total of 900 spaces.

The center will be named in honor of local philanthropists, Robert and Judi Newman. Robert Newman is cofounder of Denver-based software giant J.D. Edwards Co. He also serves as an adjunct professor at DU's Daniels College of Business.