The Business Education Complex, the new home of the E.J. Ourso College of Business, will be unveiled to the public today at a 10:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The event will feature keynote speaker Steve Forbes, editor of Forbes magazine and noted columnist.
After the ceremony, spectators will have a chance to see the 156,000-square-foot complex for themselves with guided tours of the new facility.
The project began with a budget of $60 million, and final costs will come to about $52 million, according to Timothy Rodrigue, assistant director of alumni and external relations.
Rodrigue said the complex is the school’s first standalone facility.
“For us, it gives our students a chance to learn together in one location,” Rodrigue said.
He said the facility also offers faculty the chance to conduct research with new, state-of-the-art technology and use Skype-like equipment to create a global classroom with the school’s partners in Brazil and China.
Construction on the complex began on March 19, 2010, and was funded through a private-public partnership between the state and the College of Business.
“In two years, we’ve gone from a paved asphalt surface to clearing all that, putting up steel beams, glass being installed and a roof put in place,” Rodrigue said.
The college will stream the ribbon-cutting ceremony online. A link can be found on the business college’s website.
In addition to Forbes, East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden, Chancellor Michael Martin and former business college dean and current University of Georgia business college dean Robert Sumichrast will be present at the ceremony.
Also present will be College of Business Dean Eli Jones, who spent the last several years securing funding for the complex and announced this week his departure from LSU to take the business deanship at the University of Arkansas.
Rodrigue said the college is planning for 500 guests at the event. In case of rain, the event will move to the newly constructed rotunda.
Students are excited about the new technology of the standalone facility.
“It’s definitely going to be a much better learning environment,” said Douglas Secrest, accounting senior.
Secrest likes the technology the facility will provide and said the ability to network will be beneficial for business students.
Economics sophomore Jarrett Wells said he’s excited business majors will finally have their own building.
“I’m excited about having our own place to go instead of sharing it with the engineers,” Wells said.
But he wasn’t pleased with the aesthetics of the new building.
“I kind of think it’s ugly with the windows,” Wells said.
 
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Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at [email protected]