On Feb. 27, the Broad College of Business and Michigan State University community gathered to celebrate a milestone for the Business Pavilion construction.
The "topping off ceremony" represents the midway point of construction, which the college says is ahead of its anticipated timeline.
"To say our Pavilion 'will enhance the student experience' is a vast understatement. It will raise the bar in how we shape transformational business leaders of tomorrow, and will demonstrate our position as a top-of-mind leader in business higher education," said Sanjay Gupta, the Eli and Edythe L. Broad dean of the Broad College.
Gathering at the construction site for the ceremony were Broad College faculty and staff, students, alumni and MSU leadership.
The Broad College broke ground on the Business Pavilion on September 8, 2017, and anticipates construction to complete by fall 2019.
"More than ever, we value our alumni support and their commitment to our college's future. Our beloved university prides itself on its legacy, what it means to be a Spartan and living the 'Spartans Will' mantra," Gupta said. "As a student, it is about growing into yourself, finding your place in the world, and building lasting relationships. As faculty and staff, this means guiding this next generation of Spartans. As an alum, it is knowing that you are forever a part of this special community - and having a campus to always call home," he explained.
The $60 million Pavilion is entirely donor-funded, and the college has reached nearly 60 percent of its fundraising goal.
Ceremony attendees had the opportunity to sign a steel beam of the Pavilion's frame so that their mark would be a part of the college's next chapter.
"To be a top-tier business school, Broad already has top professors, a stellar curriculum, and will now have the proper facility to go toe-to-toe with any business school in the world. We are all extremely excited to know that future students will have a state-of-the-art, open space pavilion that will attract top talent from all over the world," said Mohammed Hrezi, a student in Broad's Full-Time MBA program.