OXFORD — Miami University took a “big step” Friday toward having its new Armstrong Student Center opened by January 2014.

A subcommittee of the Miami Board of Trustees recommended to allow the full board to vote on sending the project’s $37.4 million phase one construction contracts to bid.

The university expects to open the project for bids in July. If bids are accepted, they plan to break ground for the new student center Oct. 6.

“This is obviously a big step,” said Trustee David Shade.

Finance Director David Creamer said several other universities that compete with Miami already have made substantial investments in their student centers.

“This is an area where we are in a competitive disadvantage today,” Creamer said.

“If we delay, I fully expect the cost of the project will continue to rise,” he said.

The Armstrong Student Center will combine the existing Culler, Gaskill and Rowan halls. The four-story building will feature 203,000 square feet, including a 500-seat theater, retail space, food services and student meeting rooms and lounge space. It will have a pavilion area more than twice the size of the multipurpose rooms in the Shriver Center, capable of seating 900 for a lecture or 650 for dinner.

The project is being partially funded with $30 million in donations. About $26 million has been raised so far, according to the university. The total project cost is $62.5 million.

The full Miami Board of Trustees will vote on sending the project to bid at their meeting June 24.

They also will decide to send out to bid the new Maplestreet Station project, to build Miami’s first new dining hall in 50 years. The 70,000-square-foot building will feature first floor dining services and 90 student beds above, according to the university. The project has a design budget of $2.3 million and construction budget of $20.9 million.

It will replace, and operate at a lower cost than, Hamilton and Scott dining halls, which will be closed.

Trustees also will vote on hiring for the design of new western campus residence and dining hall projects at a cost not to exceed $4.8 million, as well as $1.75 million for design and development of a fourth residence hall in the MET Quad.

Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139 or mengle@coxohio.com.