Cal Poly Pomona ushered in a new era at the grand opening of the Student Services Building (SSB), an architectural centerpiece of the campus.

Buoyed by sunshine on Friday morning, President Soraya M. Coley addressed elected officials, alumni, university donors, faculty and staff at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"Regardless of the role or responsibilities, each of us is part of this team - each of us has a role to play in student success. This new building is a monument to this vision," Coley said. "By aggregating resources for prospective students, current students, parents, and alumni all in one place, we are helping students succeed along the entire journey from when they first step foot on campus to long after they graduate."

The opening of the 140,000-square-foot SSB consolidates services that were previously delivered on various floors of the CLA Building. Students will receive essential services, ranging from academic advising to financial aid, in an efficient and streamlined manner.

Members of the campus community stopped by in the afternoon for an open house and took tours of the facility.

"We are transforming the campus with the SSB and the soon-to-be-completed housing and dining project. These two projects will meet the needs of students for generations to come," said Dan Johnson, interim associate vice president of Facilities Management. "The SSB is the new symbol of Cal Poly Pomona's pledge to student success."

In addition to becoming the administrative headquarters, the SSB also gives Cal Poly Pomona a true front door to the university. One distinct design trait of the SBB is the low-slung, undulating roofline, which echoes the hills that make up the rolling landscape of the campus.

The SSB also contains features that were built to LEED Platinum specifications that exemplify the university's longstanding commitment to sustainability and green technology. Among them are water-use reduction mechanisms, use of regional building contents, renewable-energy measures, energy-efficient devices and light-pollution reduction measures.

To learn more, check out the frequently asked questions, maps, parking and a video guide of the SSB. Other information and details about the facility can be found on The Compass.