October 11, 2005 :: No. 40

Cal State Fullerton and its College of Business and Economics kick off a new chapter Friday, Oct. 28, with a groundbreaking for the business college’s future home, Steven G. Mihaylo Hall.

“We are very excited to have a building to call our own,” said Anil Puri, dean of the college, noting that the college’s academic departments and faculty offices are currently housed in four buildings on campus. “This new, state-of-the-art building will enable us to provide world-class business education and an optimal learning environment for our students.”

The planned five-story, 195,000-square-foot structure is named in honor of the founder and chief executive officer of Phoenix-based Inter-Tel, a publicly traded provider of communications hardware, software and services. The Cal State Fullerton alumnus has given $4.5 million in pledges and contributions to the College of Business and Economics.

Mihaylo Hall will be constructed on the southeast side of campus between Langsdorf Hall and the Fullerton Marriott. The building will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, including a 250-seat tiered lecture hall and multiple smaller classroom facilities. It also will house computer labs, student support facilities, administrative and office space, plus the college’s various centers and institutes. These include the centers for Corporate Reporting and Governance, Economic Education, Entrepreneurship, Insurance Studies, Economics of Aging, and Emerging Markets, as well as the institutes for Economic and Environmental Studies, Real Estate and Land Use, and Small Business.

“Our centers and institutes contribute to the economic vitality of our region,” noted Puri. “Having them in one building will assist those community members and business leaders who seek us out for consultations, education and training.”

The building is designed to incorporate elements for energy efficiency, including energy-efficient lighting systems, a reflectant roof system, sun-shading devices, high-performance glazing and an automated building control system. Landscaping for the structure will include native, draught-tolerant plants. The exterior design includes features that will mirror elements found on other campus buildings.

Architect for the project is Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Inc.; contractor is Turner Construction Co. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2006 with completion set for 2008.

The groundbreaking ceremony is at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 28 on the lawn southeast of Langsdorf Hall.

Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics is home to the nation’s second largest accredited undergraduate business program and the largest such program in California in terms of enrollment. It is among only 25 percent of business schools nationwide to hold accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The university’s accounting program is among just 163 programs nationally — and the only one in Orange County — with additional specialized accreditation.

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