A ground breaking ceremony celebrated the start of construction on a new performing arts center at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.

CMU President John Marshall joined Doug and Jamee Simons, co-chairs of a fund-raising campaign for the project, at the event.

CMU already has received $39 million in state funding for the project and expects to invest $5 million in the effort.

Robin Brown, vice president of development and chief executive officer of the CMU Foundation, said the iconic project will expose students to theater and music in new and unique ways. The project also will provide students an opportunity to work with state-of-the-art technology that will help them in careers.

The new theater will be the only one of its kind between the Front Range of Colorado and Salt Lake City in Utah, enabling CMU to bring in touring companies and expand offerings for the region.

“It’s exciting to be able to work on a project of this magnitude. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that we couldn’t have imagined even a few years ago.” Brown said.