Construction is well under way on the College of Western Idaho's new campus extension in Boise's West End, as crews work toward a fall 2027 opening, according to kivitv.com.
The Micron Academic Center is rising along the Boise River Greenbelt near Quinn's Pond as part of the larger River District development. It is expected to be ready for students by the fall 2027 semester.
ESI Construction (Engineered Structures Inc.) is the general contractor on the $38 million, working alongside developer Ahlquist (formerly BVA) and Hummel Architects.
"To have this facility here to me is really a reflection of the growing community that we're all in," CWI President Gordon Jones told kivitv.com. "We see the growth; we feel it."
The project broke ground in 2025 and workers have completed the building's four-story steel structure. The more than 100,000-sq.-ft. facility is now taking shape from the inside.
The Micron Academic Center will house programs, such as CWI's computer science, cybersecurity and business offerings in modern labs and learning spaces designed to mirror real-world environments. The facility will help students build practical skills aligned with industry needs.
Before the year ends, crews are expected to finish the roof, install the windows and begin painting, according to kivitv.com.
The fourth floor also will offer Boise Foothills view, as well as the future phases of the 10-acre River District development.
CWI's Micron Academic Center is just part of a larger project. Future development plans call for restaurants, a hotel, housing and parking, among other amenities, according to kivitv.com.
"This is truly an ideal space for people to have access, and that's really what a community college is a place for all to be able to access affordable, empowering education," Jones said.
