Students, faculty, staff and visitors to Cal State Fullerton will soon feel they are visiting a campus within a campus when arriving at the College of Business and Economics.
In addition to the internationally acclaimed business college building that has served as the home of the largest accredited business college on the West Coast for more than 15 years, the new 20,000-square-foot trilevel Landmark Hall will serve as the leadership education hub of Orange County, housing the initiatives of the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership.
The new chapter is thanks to the generous philanthropic support of Titan alumnus Terry Giles ’70 (B.A. speech communication) and other esteemed college partners.
“The groundbreaking of Landmark Hall is a significant milestone in advancing the college’s mission to provide a student-focused education that is grounded in academic excellence and personal development while also positively impacting our community,” said Sri Sundaram, dean of the College of Business and Economics. “For decades, we’ve been at the forefront of preparing leaders with the tools and resources they need to develop leadership skills throughout their lives. Landmark Hall will solidify these efforts and provide a foundation of growth for generations to come.”
On June 5, students, university leaders, alumni and friends of the college will gather for the official groundbreaking of this new building, which will serve Cal State Fullerton, Orange County and Southern Californians as a home base for leadership education and development. Landmark Hall will further galvanize the work done by the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership in transforming the lives of students through cutting-edge curriculum and leadership development experiences. It will also provide access to leadership writings of visionaries and experts from around the world in the Erhard Institute for Leadership Studies.
“Because leadership is a part of everyone’s life experience regardless of their major, we hope to design courses at the Center for Leadership that the entire university and community can use,” said Giles, Giles Enterprises owner and president. “The building and the courses we teach here will change lives. Made possible through the power of philanthropy, Landmark Hall is just the beginning of our vision for leadership studies.”
The College of Business and Economics’ expansive vision for leadership education and development will make Cal State Fullerton a global destination to engage in leadership studies, providing innovative and transformative programs that meets the needs of diverse communities.
“The Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership was founded to infuse leadership into every level at Cal State Fullerton,” says Jay Barbuto, Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership director. “The center’s new home elevates it to a world-class destination for leadership, accelerating growth and the impact of our initiatives while also providing new opportunities for impactful programs.”
A Sneak Peek at the Future Landmark Hall
Landmark Hall will have a main entrance on Folino Drive and will be accessible from the main business college building across a short outdoor corridor from the east wing of SGMH, which houses the recently expanded Investment Research Center.
Entrance into the new building will begin in the Grand Foyer, which will feature comfortable seating and the latest technology plugins.
Students and members of the Orange County business community will take leadership courses in the second-floor auditorium, which has theatre-style seating. Smaller seminars will be held at the cabaret-layout study area in the Training Room and the JMW Executive Boardroom.
The William H. Millard Archive in the Erhard Institute for Leadership Studies will feature the leadership materials of experts such as Werner Erhard, Ken Blanchard, our own Leadership Center Director and Professor Barbuto, and many others.
The faculty and staff of the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership will have new work and office space in a leadership suite across from the institute.
A state-of-the-art television studio will be the filming location for “The Leadership Voice,” a YouTube video series featuring in-depth interviews with the Southern California community and business leaders, alumni, and other influencers.
The Peter and Sharon Fiekowsky Grand Terrace will offer a spot for events and connecting with classmates and coworkers in a setting with panoramic views of campus, the Puente Hills and the San Gabriel Mountains.
See a behind-the-scenes preview of Landmark Hall on the dedicated preview website.