The University of Colorado at Boulder Leeds School of Business will formally dedicate its expanded and renovated home, the Koelbel Building, at 3 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 19, with a ceremony at the Koelbel Building's main entrance.
"We are open for business, "said Leeds School Dean Dennis A. Ahlburg. "Inspired learning has a new home. The Koelbel Building invites curiosity and the search for new ideas with a wonderful environment that provides both inspiration and technological tools." The dedication is open to the public.
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, Denver real estate leader Walter A. "Buz" Koelbel Jr., CU President Hank Brown, CU Boulder Chancellor Bud Peterson, Dean Ahlburg, and Audrey Klanecky, president of the Leeds School student government, will speak at the ceremony. The program also will feature the Golden Buffalo Marching Band as well as Leeds School faculty, staff, alumni and friends.
Amir Eltabib, past president of the Leeds School student government, will serve as master of ceremonies.
"None of this would have been possible without the determination of our students to have a great building and their willingness to help pay for it," Ahlburg said. "Nor would it have been possible without the remarkably generous support of the Koelbel family, Bob and Beverly Deming, Dick and Jean Engebretson, Dick and Nan Burridge, Rob and Georganne Foss, President Hank Brown and Chancellor Bud Peterson. They and many other alumni and supporters rose to the challenge of building a world-class business facility to house a world-class business school."
The Leeds School began the $38 million expansion and renovation in spring 2006. The building is named in honor of the Koelbel family, leaders in the Colorado real estate industry. The expansion added 65,000 square feet to the existing 100,000-square-foot building.
The expansion and renovation of the Koelbel Building provides students a wide range of new facilities to enhance their educational experience including:
o Additional classrooms designed to foster group discussion and to allow immediate access to research and background information on the day's lesson.
o New team rooms to serve as laboratories where students will experiment in group dynamics and organizational development by working collaboratively on projects.
o An information commons and other gathering areas that encourage informal exchanges and mentoring.
o Interview rooms that provide a professional setting for recruiters to discover outstanding new employees and for young graduates to launch a career.
The Koelbel Building is located on Regent Drive on the CU-Boulder campus, and visitor parking is available in the lot in front of the main entrance. A map is available at leeds.colorado.edu/visit. Information on the event also is posted on the Events Calendar at on the Oct. 19 listing.
Koelbel Building Facts
Oct. 15, 2007
o Construction of the Koelbel Building began in spring 2006. The building opened for business on Aug. 6, 2007, when faculty and staff moved into their offices. Students began classes in the building on Aug. 27. Formal dedication is Friday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. at the Koelbel Building main entrance.
o The formal dedication will feature remarks by 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 program also will include the Golden Buffalo Marching Band and faculty, staff, alumni and friends.
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 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 is $38 million. Funding comes from the following sources:
o $ 17.50 million-Student commitment from student fees
o $ 17.25 million-Private philanthropy
o $ 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
First Floor
The first floor houses the core of a traditional library of books and printed materials along with quiet study spaces. It also consolidates and expands undergraduate services, including more space for student organizations and lounges to further enhance the sense of community. Anchored by three new classrooms, this level includes the new dining area.
Second Floor
The second floor's multi-functional "Information Commons" is one of the building's most exciting features. Extending from the library, the commons encourages 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 features a board room, Business Gallery, office suites for the centers, the MBA office suite and lounge, team rooms, case rooms, the Career Connections offices and the Diversity Affairs office suite.
The Career Connections office is twice its former 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 helps 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.
Third Floor
The third floor houses 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 are the center of the students' case and consulting project collaboration, providing space for valuable team interaction that mirrors the corporate world.
Fourth Floor
The fourth floor is home to faculty offices and conference rooms.