With the snip of a giant pair of scissors, a prominent businessman and a top state legislator officially opened the Carlson School of Management building on Thursday.
Carlson School benefactor and namesake Curt Carlson was joined by State Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Afterward, Carlson said the West Bank building fulfills “a community dream.”
Administrators were equally excited about the new facility.
“With the opening of a new building, all the pieces are in place for a great investment in people and programs and the Carlson school can soar into the next century,” said David Kidwell, dean of the school.
The facility brings Carlson school administrators, faculty, and students into one building. Previously, courses were held in five buildings across campus.
The building incorporates new technology, including network access in the classrooms and a video interviewing room. It was designed to cluster offices, classrooms and administrators.
Tinted windows and geometric designs conceal a four-level atrium inside, which many describe as the building’s focal point. The 243,000 square foot building is divided into two auditoriums, horseshoe-shaped classrooms and small-group “breakout rooms.”
The building was funded through a $25 million legislative appropriation and $20 million in private funds.
“The design is perfect,” said Matt Flores, a finance junior and president of the Undergraduate Business Board. “We can all come to one place and we see the same people all the time, throughout the day.”