The new College of Business Administration three-building complex opened its doors for fall quarter, and students quickly realized something about their new home. Learning never looked so good.

Underneath a cedar canopy and flanked by the buildings, the Cal Poly Pomona community celebrated the complex's opening with a ribbon-cutting and open house Sept. 21. More than 600 people - including alumni and donors - attended the ceremony, some of whom traveled from as far as Washington, D.C (alumna and National Development Council member Marie Therese Royce). The event included speeches from President Michael Ortiz, Dean Richard S. Lapidus and alumnus Lance Calvert ('69, business administration).

Calvert said he donated to the project to improve the lives of students just as his life was bettered by having a Cal Poly Pomona degree.

"Maybe you didn't start out life in the best of circumstances, but in our society you don't have to stay there and you can improve your lot in life," said Calvert, who has given $500,000 to the building campaign. "The best way I know to do this is through education and hard work."

Behind the walls are innovative learning spaces that promote an interactive, high-tech education. For instance, students working on group projects can meet in one of eight breakout rooms that are equipped with the strongest wireless connection on campus and a 42-inch flat-screen monitor. Students working on a laptop, tablet or smartphone can wirelessly project their work onto the monitor to share information. A financial markets room will open soon, as well as a student-managed investment fund that will enhance hands-on learning for finance students.

While creating the new learning space, the university took into account the environment and the campus' Climate Commitment. Recognizing that more than 50 percent of energy consumption comes from buildings, CBA and university officials implemented ways to lower energy and water bills, as well as to incorporate environmentally friendly construction materials. For their efforts, the university received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is the only state-funded project on campus to receive LEED certification.

(Top photo: Students crowd into a MHR class on the first day of classes Sept. 20. Bottom photo: Administrators, donors and alumni take part in the ribbon cutting of the new complex Sept. 21.)

Browse through a photo tour of the new complex at https://calpolypomona.zenfolio.com/p708722613/slideshow.