After more than six years of planning, the Business Instructional Facility held its grand opening ceremony on Friday, Oct. 17.

“A new building is like a first date,” said University President B. Joseph White. “You’re hopeful, you’ve done your homework, and I can tell you, it had me from the front door.”

More than 300 business students dressed in orange lined the second and third floor balconies to welcome faculty, alumni, and donors to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Larry Debrock, dean of the College of Business, welcomed the crowd after a short performance by the marching band.

“We’ve built this building to educate the best and the brightest,” Debrock said. “It sort of takes your breath away when you come in here.”

The building was designed by renowned alumnus Cesar Pelli, a graduate of the School of Architecture. Pelli is known for designing the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, the Wells Fargo Center in Minneapolis, Minn. and the World Financial Center in New York City.

Assistant Director of Communications Barlow LeVold said the building would improve the services available to students.

“The idea is that it’s not a new building for the College of Business,” LeVold said. “It’s strictly for the students and student facilities.”

The facility houses not only the Business Career Services, but also classrooms, conference rooms, and interview rooms in the three-story building. Larry Eppley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, noted the fiscal and environmental responsibility of the building as well as its innovative design.

“This building shows our students what it means to not only be good business leaders but also socially responsible construction,” Eppley said.

The speakers at the ceremony included Brock, Eppley, White, Chancellor Richard Hermann, Pelli and Sid Micek, president of the University of Illinois Foundation.

“There are two great arms races taking place on university campuses: one involves football stadiums, the other involves business school facilities,” White said. “I want you to know in the last two years we’ve gone from wanting to leading in both of those dimensions.”