Colby-Sawyer College’s Board of Trustees has approved plans to construct a new arts building sited on the south-east end of campus near the Curtis L. Ivey Science Center.

The 15,000 square foot space will be home to studios, a state-of-the-art black box theater and a fine art galleria with views of Mt. Kearsarge, as well as offices for faculty, storage space and outdoor art areas.

The timeline for the $7 million project will include planning, final design and permitting through July 2016, with construction beginning in August 2016.

Sustained fundraising efforts mean the college will be able to complete the project without incurring any new debt, and an endowment created through an alumna’s gift will support the building’s operation.

“One of the most important factors when high school students choose a college is the space in which their major is housed,” said Colby-Sawyer President Thomas C. Galligan Jr. “Colby-Sawyer has a curriculum grounded in the liberal arts, and this new building will impact every one of our students while also providing a beautiful, functional home for our arts majors. Beyond that, the building will enhance the college’s already substantial role as a hub for performances and exhibitions in the region.”

“The new arts building will be a tangible example of the college’s continuing enhancement of its facilities to meet the academic needs of its students,” said Tom Csatari, chair of the Board of Trustees, “and the funds raised for the project reflect the commitment of loyal alumni and friends of the college to provide the very best experience for our students.”

The building will be designed by the S/L/A/M Collaborative of Glastonbury, Conn., which designed the Ware Student Center expansion project completed in  2013.