On the stable rank of algebras of operator fields over metric spaces

Let Γ be a finitely generated, torsion-free, two-step nilpotent group. Let C*(Γ) denote the universal C*-algebra of Γ. We show that sr(C*(Γ))=sr(C((Γ^)1), where for a unital C*-algebra A, sr(A) is the stable rank of A, and where (Γ^)1 is the space of one-dimensional representations of Γ. In process, we give a stable rank estimate for maximal full algebras of operator fields over metric spaces.