NewHavenBIZ

14 n e w h a v e n B I Z | M a y 2 0 2 3 | n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo L ess than two years aer first breaking ground, Southern Connecticut State University in May will finish construction of its new 60,000-square-foot School of Business build- ing. e long-awaited $52.4 million, four-story facility doubles the business school's available space, and the project has been a key component of SCSU's bid to get accreditation for its School of Business. "I believe the new building will energize our learn- ing community because it is very contemporary and modern," said Jess Boronico, dean of the School of Business. "It serves as a testament to the hard work of our faculty and students, and it's an opportunity to share in a gorgeous new building." Boronico also anticipates the new building will make SCSU more attractive to prospective business students who are evaluating which college or universi- ty to attend. SCSU has faced competition from area accredited business programs, including UConn, Quinnipiac University, the University of New Haven, Sacred Heart University and Central Connecticut State University. "e achievement of accreditation we hope will enhance local enrollment," Boronico said. "We hope to enroll students from around the world. e new building has attracted interest and excitement, and will enhance learning opportunities." In early May, SCSU officials reported that the busi- ness school had an undergraduate enrollment of near- ly 700, and a graduate student enrollment of about 60. Boronico, who joined SCSU in June 2022, has a background in successfully leading universities to accreditation. SCSU officials indicated they are in the final stages of securing accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). As of early May, they were still waiting on official word on the AACSB's decision. Sense of place Construction on the new School of Business build- ing, at the intersection of Farnham and Wintergreen avenues, started in September 2021. As of April, workers were completing cosmetic work on the building, including cleaning, painting walls and moving in furniture. Officials said they plan to allow faculty to move into the building around May 22. Students will be able to use the new facility in the upcoming fall semester, and a grand opening celebration is being planned for Sept. 15. e building was originally slated to be finished ear- lier this year, but the timeline was pushed back due to delays caused by supply chain issues and COVID-19 protocols, according to Eric Lessne, SCSU's associ- ate vice president for capital budgeting and facilities operations. e new building features nine general classrooms, plus specialized classrooms and lecture halls, dean and faculty offices, and break rooms. It has private areas for group meetings and discussions, and space for executive staff meetings. ere are team rooms and function spaces, in- cluding a 1,500-square-foot community room for up to 100 people. A stock market ticker will be visible outside the first floor. e new building has an auditorium, which is now the largest on campus, and it will be used for teaching, presentations, panel discussions and events featuring visitors from the business community. e School of Business in the past hasn't had its own event space, and instead has had to make use of meeting spaces elsewhere on campus. e new auditorium can seat up to about 125 people, according to Victoria Verderame, assistant director of media relations. e school's Business Success Center offers career planning and job search help, and it features locations for employers to meet and interview SCSU students. e facility was designed to have a lot of interior glass to allow for outside light to get to the center of the building, according to Chris Daur, resident engi- neer and project manager with project management company Jacobs. SCSU's current "maze-like" School of Business PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Finishing Touches As potential accreditation nears, SCSU completes $52.4M School of Business building Workers in April were finishing up construction on the new School of Business building at Southern Connecticut State University. Pictured outside the facility are, in blue, Eric Lessne, SCSU's associate vice president for capital budgeting and facilities operations, with Chris Daur, resident engineer and project manager with Jacobs. Jess Boronico, dean of the SCSU School of Business. PHOTOS | GARY LEWIS

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