Metropolitan State University's 10,581 square foot music-education center at 800 Kalamath St. has hit the market for $4.2 million.
The blocky, green industrial building is one block from the Art District on Santa Fe, where the city has seen a glut of new development.
The lot is zoned for mixed uses that activate the street for pedestrians and new builds up to five stories.
Built in 2002 and renovated as a first-class music production studio in 2018, the building is listed as an investment property.
"MSU Denver's Department of Music programs have occupied the building at 800 Kalamath since 2017 under a ten-year lease agreement," wrote Tim Carroll, a spokesperson for Metro.
The university made headlines after it partnered with the Detroit-based contemporary music school DIM in 2015 to bring a school to Denver. The partnership promised a first-class education in contemporary music for aspiring recording artists who wouldn't thrive in a traditional university environment.
The building was renovated with new studio, classroom and performance space, and at the time, was viewed as the next hot thing in the music scene.
But by 2019, after a five-year collaboration, a marketing study proved DIME Denver wasn't going to be profitable for MSU. The university cut ties, resulting in a lawsuit.
During the pandemic, DIME offered its music education online, and Metro began using the building for its more traditional music education program.
"As part of its academic and community mission, the University has also provided space in the facility to nonprofit music partners such as Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, Latino Cultural Art Center and Rocky Ridge Music Center," said Carroll.
The building is owned by the Denver company Nimbl Holdings LLC. The lease with MSU ends in 2027.
