The structure known as Building 163 at the College of Business Administration will be christened Ronald W. Gregoire Hall at a dedication ceremony Thursday, April 16 and become the first donor-named building at Cal Poly Pomona.
Gregoire, a 1971 accounting alumnus, will make an address at the 3 p.m. unveiling ceremony. University President Soraya M. Coley and Richard Lapidus, dean of the College of Business Administration, also will speak about the impact of Gregoire's gifts to the campus.
To attend the ceremony, go online to RSVP or contact Kristin Files at (909) 869-2351 or kjfiles@cpp.edu. Light refreshments will be served at the dedication.
The California State University Board of Trustees formally approved the naming of Building 163 as Ronald W. Gregoire Hall at its meeting on Nov. 12, 2014.
"Cal Poly Pomona made it possible for me to go from selling cars instead of building cars," said Gregoire at the meeting. "It provided a much different quality of life for me and my family. It's a special day. I am extremely honored with this naming."
After the building naming was approved, Gregoire issued a $1.5-million challenge to alumni and supporters. Contributions will go toward the remaining project funding goal of $900,000 and the rest will establish a building enhancement endowment that will maintain upkeep and provide technology upgrades for the structures. Gregoire will match every donation dollar for dollar.
A website, www.gregoirechallenge.org, has been created to help donors learn more about the challenge.
Gregoire gave the initial $1 million in 2001 that planted the seed for the concept and encouraged others to give. Since its opening in fall 2012, the complex has received numerous design awards and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, making it an environmentally friendly complex. Overall, Gregoire has contributed $2.5 million for construction of the project.
The naming of a building or college has been reserved for a select few that have made profound contributions to Cal Poly Pomona: W.K. Kellogg, Darlene May, and Jim and Carol Collins. Gregoire joins that elite company.
The 89,200-square-foot CBA complex houses six technologically enhanced classrooms, five auditorium-style case rooms, two computer labs, and eight breakout rooms equipped with a 42-inch flat-screen monitor where students can project and share their work.