The University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business faculty and staff officially moved into their new home, the newly expanded and renovated Koelbel Building, today.
"We are excited to move into our outstanding new facility," said Dennis A. Ahlburg, dean of the Leeds School. "It will be great to set aside blueprints and paint samples so that we can focus on our mission of providing inspired education for our students." An enhanced podcast describing the Koelbel Building is posted on the News Center site at .
Faculty and staff began unpacking boxes and setting up computers that were moved over the weekend from the Fleming Building, the school's temporary home for the last year. Finishing touches on construction and final moving will be completed over the next week in preparation for the first day of classes Aug. 27.
Formal dedication of the building is set for Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, the Koelbel family, CU President Hank Brown and CU-Boulder Chancellor Bud Peterson are scheduled to attend.
The Leeds School began construction on the $38 million expansion and renovation in spring 2006. The building was renamed in honor of the Koelbel family, leaders in the Colorado real estate industry.
The expansion adds 65,000 square feet to the existing 100,000-square-foot building. The renovated building includes new MBA and undergraduate classrooms, student "team rooms," offices, an "information commons" and renovated business library.
The Koelbel Building is located on Regent Drive on the CU-Boulder campus. For directions and a map go to leeds.colorado.edu/visit.
Leeds School of Business
University of Colorado at Boulder
Koelbel Building Facts
Aug. 6, 2007
o Construction of the Koelbel Building began in spring 2006. The building opens for business on Aug. 6, 2007. Faculty and staff began moving into their offices Aug. 4-5.
o The finished building is 165,000 square feet including the 100,000 square feet of renovated space from the original building, which integrates seamlessly with a 65,000-square-foot, four-story expansion. The original building opened in 1970.
o The expanded facility has 16 classrooms, three research labs, two seminar rooms, six discussion areas, 25 team rooms and an information commons that will enhance the learning experience for students.
o Nine conference rooms will provide students, faculty and staff more professional spaces for meetings, including places to host the external business community.
o Cost of renovation and expansion of the Koelbel Building for CU-Boulder's Leeds School of Business will be $38 million. Funding will come from the following sources:
$ 17.50 million Student commitment from student fees
$ 17.25 million Private philanthropy
$ 3.25 million University commitment
o Originally designed to serve 1,400 students in the spring of 1970, the building served 3,600 students (255 percent of designed capacity) without benefit of a major renovation or expansion prior to the beginning of construction in 2006.
o Formal dedication of the building will be on Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. with distinguished guests including Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, the Koelbel family, CU President Hank Brown, CU Chancellor Bud Peterson and Leeds School Dean Dennis Ahlburg.
The Koelbel Building Floor by Floor
o First Floor
The first floor will house the core of a traditional library of books and printed materials along with quiet study spaces. It also will consolidate and expand undergraduate services, including more space for student organizations and lounges to further enhance the sense of community. Anchored by three new classrooms, this level will include the new dining area, which will have flexible partitions for meetings and receptions.
o Second Floor
The second floor's multi-functional "Information Commons" will be one of the building's most exciting features. Extending from the library, the commons will encourage collaborative student, faculty and staff interaction with informal seating spaces, a student-managed caf茅 and a lounge with wireless communication capabilities.
The second floor also will feature a board room, Business Gallery, office suites for the centers, the MBA office suite and lounge, team rooms, case rooms, the Business Career Center and the Diversity Affairs office suite.
The Career Center will be twice its current size with a more professional setting for students and job recruiters to interact-a critical element in the new design. The expanded Diversity Affairs office suite will help serve the school's growing multicultural population, supporting the Leeds School's commitment to cultivate a diverse work force as a competitive advantage in business.
o Third Floor
The third floor will house the dean's suite, Business Research Division, classrooms, research labs, a computer teaching lab, student work lounges and additional student team and seminar rooms. The team rooms will be the center of the students' case and consulting project collaboration, providing space for valuable team interaction that will mirror the corporate world.
o Fourth Floor
The fourth floor will be the home of faculty offices and conference rooms.