Cornell architects can finally rest easy. Pending the final approval of a building permit request, the University will at long last be able to construct Milstein Hall. This news is long overdue.

The proposed $40-million building, which will house the University’s architecture program, has been forced to cut through years worth of red tape on its path to approval — first from Cornell and later from the City of Ithaca. The process has been frustrating and complex but, when all is said and done, Cornell will likely be able to give its top-ranked architecture program the building it deserves.

We are relieved that the 11-year-long epic — which saw three different architects, a barrage of administrative setbacks and a rigorous yearlong review by the city — has reached its conclusion. We are glad to see that Cornell and Ithaca were finally able to come to an agreement about the project. But mostly, we are excited for the architecture program, which will once more have enough studio space on campus to accommodate its growing population of undergraduate and graduate students.

Ithaca should be credited for its handling of the review process. Other than a frustrating dispute with Cornell over the ownership over University Ave., which lies adjacent to the building site, the city has reviewed the University’s plan both diligently and relatively quickly. In part because of the proposed site’s proximity to Fall Creek Gorge, the Planning and Development Board went to great pains to carefully scrutinize various aspects of the project; in doing so they helped guarantee that the physical environment on which Milstein will rest can safely support the 59,000 square-foot structure.

The Sun has been a vocal critic of Cornell as it struggled over the past decade to see this project reach fruition. We raised questions about the revolving cast of architects and design plans connected to Milstein, and wondered whether the embattled proposal would ever see the light of day. However, the University exhibited flexibility near the end of the process, electing in fall 2007 to revise the building’s plans in order to resolve the University Ave. debate. That decision went a long way towards seeing Milstein through its final planning stages.

Many Cornellians thought the day would never come, but it looks a lot like Milstein Hall is going to become a reality. While the University faces significant budget cuts in response to its shrinking endowment, it should make haste to break ground on Milstein as soon as possible. Architecture students have waited patiently for years; it’s time to finally give them their building.