Collins College of Hospitality Management students can now dine at outdoor courtyards that overlook the entire campus, grab a to-go Starbucks coffee for studying in a decked-out lounge or learn about the industry in new state-of-the-art classrooms.

They joined a crowd of more than 300 to celebrate the college’s highly anticipated building expansion. The guest list also included faculty, staff, and business and community leaders.

Dean Lea Dopson lauded the success of getting the 12,000-square-foot building completed on time and on budget. She also cited that the $10 million expansion, entirely funded by donors, is targeted to earn Gold Certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a designation that recognizes best-in-class practices for building design and construction.  It would be the first LEED Gold building on campus.

“As California’s pipeline into the professional world of hospitality, the Collins College is meeting the growing employment needs of the multi-billion dollar hospitality and tourism industry by expanding its facilities to help shape tomorrow’s leaders,” Dopson said.

During the Nov. 19 ribbon cutting, University President Soraya M. Coley heralded the contributions of the donors and the vision of President Emeritus Michael Ortiz in making the dream of a project a reality.

The expansion comes at an important time of growth for the university and in the hospitality and tourism industry, Coley said.

“This new building will serve as a centerpiece of excellence for undergraduate and graduate education, and is a beacon for future leaders in the industry,” Coley said. “If our graduates are to continue to be in high demand, and they are, they need to have access to the best learning environment we can offer.”

Building 80, made possible through the generosity of distinguished donors Jim and Carol Collins, Andrew and Peggy Cherng, the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation and Hae and Shina Park, has two distinctly named wings.

The Marriott Learning Center, which recognizes a $2 million donation from the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, features two undergraduate flexible classrooms, an exterior colonnade and grab-n-go cafe in the student commons area.

The second wing, named The Donald & Carolyn Lundberg Hall (dedicated by Hae and Shina Park), includes faculty offices, two graduate classrooms, two group study rooms, a conference room, a graduate student teacher’s assistant work area station and a part-time faculty office suite. Donald Lundberg served as the founding chair of the hospitality management program.

The Park Family donated $1 million for the expansion project. Hae Park is a prominent businessman and Collins alumnus.

Many other donors are recognized for their contributions to the project on the donor wall.

Classes in the new building will begin in spring 2016.

Mary McVey, a senior and a member of the Collins Ambassador leadership program, which involves outreach, recruitment and public relations activities for the college, spoke about what the expansion means to students.

“You’ve given us a tremendous gift,” she said. “Your total support and belief in us and our continuing success will be a continuous source of inspiration to all of us. Your contribution will truly be remembered as we utilize and enjoy our new learning center for many generations to come.”