A-State announced plans to move forward with construction of several on-campus developments during Friday’s ASU System Board of Trustees meeting. The developments include a new hotel, restaurant and convention center, as well as a lease agreement to build two new student housing facilities.

The university confirmed the developments via press release. According Dr. Bill Smith, executive director for marketing and communications for A-State, the convention center, hotel and restaurant will be built on the site of the former track and field program.

The Board of Trustees approved the use of Jonesboro Hotel Partners, LLC to begin construction of the project, which will include a 200-room Embassy Suites Hotel, a convention center, and a Houlihan’s Restaurant and Bar.

The project is slated to complete construction in 2018.

KAIT reports the new construction will allow Jonesboro students the opportunity to work at the complex while completing a hospitality management degree program.

The ASU System Board of Trustees also approved a 35-year land lease with Zimmer Development at the Feb. 26 meeting.

The first-ever public-private construction project on campus is designed to fit the growing need for student housing. The project will add two housing structures to campus. The undergraduate facility, located on the east side, will hold 350 beds while the west side structure, designated primarily for graduate students, will hold 165 beds. The project is set to begin construction at the conclusion of the spring semester with a completion date for the fall 2017 semester.

Zimmer will construct and maintain the units while Arkansas State will manage and market the two complexes. During the initial years, Zimmer will pay $200,000 per year for the undergraduate land lease; $105,000 for the graduate area.

At the close of the lease, the housing units will become university property.