San Diego State University students and officials celebrated the completion of the Storm and Nasatir Hall Complex, an upgraded classroom and lecture facility, at grand opening ceremony Friday.
"It’s my great pleasure to welcome you to a historic day for San Diego State," SDSU President Elliot Hirshman said at the dedication.
The Charles Hostler Hall, named for the retired Air Force colonel who served as a U.S. ambassador, is a new 435-seat lecture hall that will be used for classes and special events, according to SDSU. Hostler was also a beneficiary of the College of Arts and Letters at the university.
Construction for the complex began in June 2012, and renovations were designed with an eye for sustainability. The new complex features high-efficiency lighting, heating and cooling systems, and officials are hoping to attain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification once the applications are complete.
"This project was all about renovating old, sad space that the students have been ill-served by for almost a generation now," SDSU Operations Associate Vice President and University Architect Bob Schulz said. "The idea was … anything we can do to make it more efficient, more sustainable, we’re going to do."
Schulz said materials were sourced locally for the 137,700-square-foot building. Solar panels and energy efficient windows were installed, and the buildings were fitted with a new exterior finish.
"You really only get one chance to build a building like this," Schulz said. "It’s basically an energy-reduction program that came in the guise of a new teaching space."
SDSU has been working to become a leader in maintaining a greener campus. Its new Aztec Student Union is already certified LEED Platinum.
