Leeds School Dean Dennis A. Ahlburg (third from right) describes the atrium of the newly expanded and renovated Koelbel Building to media who toured the new facility Aug. 6. (Photo/Casey A. Cass)

Leeds School of Business faculty and staff have returned to a newly expanded, renovated and renamed home, the Koelbel Building. With construction workers still applying the finishing touches, faculty and staff began unpacking and settling into their expanded facility on Aug. 6, preparing for the arrival of students and the beginning of classes later this month.

The students will find 16 classrooms, three research labs, 25 team rooms and an information commons that will encourage greater interaction among students, faculty and staff. Undergraduate advising, the career center and diversity affairs have greatly expanded facilities to better serve students. And the building now has distance learning capabilities that will enhance the school's growing number of international programs.

Leeds School Dean Dennis A. Ahlburg told media during a recent tour of the building that the expansion and renovation have already had an impact with student recruitment and alumni involvement. The MBA program saw a 53 percent increase in enrollment bolstered by the promise of the expanded building, a new "creativity challenge" that encouraged applicants to demonstrate their creative sides and revamped marketing efforts.

Alumni have a reinvigorated interest in the Leeds School driven by the attraction of the expanded building and enhanced alumni programs. The building was renamed in honor of the Koelbel family, leaders in the Colorado real estate industry, and other alumni have made a range of donations to name features including classrooms, the quad on the west side of the building, the dean's suite, conference rooms, the atrium and a student lounge. CU Foundation staff are working on several more naming opportunities.

Formal dedication of the building is set for 3 p.m., Oct. 19. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, the Koelbel family, CU President Hank Brown and CU-Boulder Chancellor Bud Peterson are scheduled to attend.

Construction on the $38 million expansion and renovation began in spring 2006. The expansion added 65,000 square feet to the existing 100,000-square-foot building.

Koelbel is located on Regent Drive. Directions and a map are available on the website, and an enhanced podcast interviewing Dean Ahlburg and describing the Koelbel Building is posted on the News Center site. For additional information about Koelbel, visit the Leeds School web page.