California State University, Monterey Bay, broke ground Thursday on a new Alumni and Visitor's Center, which officials predicted will be a gateway to the campus.

The $3.5 million facility, to be completed in January 2005, will stand at Third Street and Fourth Avenue.

"For such a young university, we will be fortunate to have a place for our alumni to call home," said Stephanie Regevig, director of alumni relations.

CSUMB's University Advancement division, which includes fund-raising, publications and media staff, will have offices in the new building.

The facility also will be an informational hub for campus visitors needing directions or with questions about the school.

There are now 2,049 CSUMB alumni and about 550 who are active in the alumni association.

The building will feature meeting and conference rooms for a growing number of alumni, who are expected to use the center for events.

About 50 people attended the ground-breaking and watched as CSUMB President Peter Smith and other officials used a shovel to ceremoniously dig into the earth.

"(Alumni) will always have a home to visit for maintaining a bond to CSUMB," Regevig said.

The center will be built where construction crews this month took apart two old military buildings. The buildings were "deconstructed," or disassembled in such a way that the wood can be reused in new construction.

WHAT'S NEXT
Construction crews will begin work on an Alumni and Visitors Center at California State University, Monterey Bay. It's expected to be completed in January 2005.