Colorado State University Will Hold Groundbreaking Ceremony for Rockwell Hall Expansion on Oct. 2

Colorado State University’s College of Business will begin construction on its Rockwell Hall expansion on Oct. 2.

A groundbreaking event will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the west side of Rockwell Hall, 501 W. Laurel St., on the Colorado State campus. Speakers will include President Larry Edward Penley; Ajay Menon, dean of the College of Business; Rebecca Tuft, president of the Dean’s Student Leadership Council; and Bob Hottman, corporate partner with EKS&H and a college alumnus.

The college also will host Ralph Peterson, CEO of CH2M HILL, on Oct. 2. Peterson will speak at 1:30 p.m. in the East Ballroom of the Lory Student Center.

The $17.5 million Rockwell expansion project, which will feature 40,500 square feet of program space, is expected to include nine new classrooms, a 112-seat grand auditorium, a financial data lab and a student forum. All new classrooms will be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to provide students with the most up-to-date information and knowledge in preparation for a fast-paced, ever-changing workplace.

The Fort Collins-based Bohemian Foundation, a longtime supporter of Colorado State University, has committed up to $3 million for the planned expansion.

The goal of the expansion is to accommodate students with a great environment to enhance their learning experience at CSU, Penley said.

"With the growing interest in global and sustainable business and the development of new programs within the college, we’re pleased to get this well-deserved expansion project underway," Penley said. "Colorado State is grateful for the ongoing support from the Bohemian Foundation that has helped make this project possible. Together, we are working to increase our students’ understanding of real-world, business challenges with state-of-the-art technologies and facilities."

The Rockwell Hall expansion is one of eight major construction projects taking place on the Colorado State campus to enhance its learning, teaching and researching capabilities. The expansion, funded by student fees and private donations, is expected to be completed by January 2010. The addition will increase the size of the existing building by roughly 50 percent.

"The College of Business has enjoyed significant growth and national attention in its climb toward becoming a world-class institution," said Menon. "The Rockwell Hall expansion helps us continue that momentum to attract the best and the brightest students and faculty."

Facts about the Rockwell Hall expansion:

– All rooms will include wireless technology, LCD projectors, DVD players, and plasma screens.

-The expansion is being funded with student fees and private donations.

-The financial data lab will replicate a trading room to simulate stock transactions using actual market data and stock quotes.

-Technology in the financial data lab will include data and video projectors, a SMART Board, plasma and flat screens, and a Bloomberg terminal.

-The auditorium will be used for classroom instruction, as well as for hosting national

and international speakers, senior corporate executives, student-focused events, visiting dignitaries, symposiums and community lectures.

-The Forum will be a central hub for students and faculty, and will include a coffee bar with caf? seating and vending machines.

-30-