91ԭƬ

CSUSM Marks Topping-Out Milestone for Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering

the new $110 million hall is intended to create additional capacity for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM) while supporting the campus’ emphasis on student success and social mobility.
The newÌý$110 millionÌýhall is intended to createÌýadditional capacity for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM) while supporting the campus’ emphasis on student success and social mobility. | Photo Credit: CSUSM
  • Cal State San Marcos held a topping-out ceremony April 24 for Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering, marking the placement of the final structural beam.Ìý
  • TheÌýroughly 70,000-square-foot, three-story building is slated to open in fall 2027 with laboratories, a robotics suite and collaboration-focused learning space.Ìý
  • CSUSM leaders say the project supports expansion of engineering programs, including growth in engineering enrollment from about 500 students toÌýnearly 2,000Ìýand a planned industrial and systems engineering program.Ìý
  • The project follows a July 31, 2025,Ìýgroundbreaking for what CSUSM then called the Integrated Science and Engineering Building, an estimated $110 million facility designed by HGA with C.W. Driver Companies as general contractor.ÌýÌý
  • A $10 million gift from Hunter Industries helped advance the project and is tied to CSUSM’s $200 million “Blueprint for the Futureâ€� fundraising campaign.Ìý

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Cal State San Marcos celebrated a key construction milestone for its new Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering, bringing campus leaders,ÌýdonorsÌýand community supporters together April 24 to mark the building’s topping out.ÌýÌý

The ceremony, a construction tradition that includes signing and lifting the final structural beam, highlights progress on aÌýroughly 70,000-square-foot, three-story facilityÌý— designed by HGA being built by general contractor C.W. Driver Companies — isÌýscheduled to open in fall 2027.ÌýÌý

University officials said the newÌý$110 millionÌýhall is intended to createÌýadditionalÌýcapacity for the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM) while supporting the campus’ emphasis on student success and social mobility.ÌýÌý

“This facility is social mobility in action.ÌýIt’sÌýabout providing access for students, many of whom are the first in their families to go to college, stepping into fields that are shaping the future,â€� CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said, according toÌýan article from CSUSMÌýNewsCenter.Ìý

Hunter Hall is expected to includeÌýstate-of-the-artÌýlaboratories, a robotics suite and collaborative learning spaces. The project will help expand engineering enrollment from 500 toÌýnearly 2,000Ìýstudents and support the launch of a new industrial and systems engineering program, building on existing electrical, software and computer engineering offerings.Ìý

The three-story buildingÌýis beingÌýconstructed at the top of campus between Markstein Hall and the Arts Building and willÌýinclude teaching and research labs, classrooms, student support areas, staff offices, aÌýcaféÌýand outdoor gathering spaces.Ìý

Hunter IndustriesÌýhasÌýcommitted a $10 million philanthropic investment to support constructionÌý—Ìýone of the largest gifts in university history.ÌýÌý

“An educated workforce is the foundation of a thriving economy,â€� said Greg Hunter, CEO of Hunter Industries, according toÌýan article from CSUSMÌýNewsCenter. “We are proud to deepen our partnership with CSUSM and invest in a facility that will empower students, strengthen our community and drive innovation for decades to come.â€�Ìý

CSUSM said the gift helped advance its “Blueprint for the Futureâ€� campaign, which the university describes as its most ambitious fundraising effort to date, and positioned the project as part of broader plans to expand facilities and STEM programming.Ìý

Get more weekly reports andÌýtimelyÌýupdates by subscribing for free atÌýschoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.Ìý

Share this article