CSUSM Celebrates Topping Out of Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering

CSUSM Celebrates Topping Out of Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering

By Debby Clark

An error occurred while preparing your download

Cal State San Marcos marked a major construction milestone Friday, April 24, as university leaders, donors and community supporters gathered to celebrate the topping out of the new Hunter Hall of Science and Engineering.

Topping-out ceremonies are a long-standing construction tradition, typically marked by the signing of the final structural beam before it is lifted into place. At CSUSM, the moment carried deeper meaning, as it honored the university's commitment to building new and accessible pathways for students in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM).

"I feel a deep sense of gratitude for the momentum that brought us to this point," CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said. "This facility is social mobility in action. It's about 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."

Built for Growth

Opening in fall 2027, Hunter Hall represents a significant investment in CSUSM's trajectory as one of the fastest-growing campuses in the California State University system. Once complete, the approximately 70,000-square-foot, three-story facility will feature state-of-the-art laboratories, a robotics suite and collaborative learning spaces designed to meet the region's increasing demand for engineering talent.

Hunter Hall will allow CSUSM to expand engineering enrollment from 500 to nearly 2,000 students and launch a new program in industrial and systems engineering, building on existing offerings in electrical, software and computer engineering.

The expansion comes at a critical time for San Diego, one of the nation's fastest-growing technology and innovation hubs, where the need for skilled engineers continues to outpace supply. With eight in 10 CSUSM graduates remaining in the region after graduation, Hunter Hall is positioned to directly strengthen the local workforce pipeline.

An error occurred while preparing your download

A Transformational Gift

The project has been made possible in part by a transformational $10 million gift from Hunter Industries, one of the largest contributions in university history.

"It's an exciting moment to see this building coming to fruition," said Greg Hunter, CEO of Hunter Industries. "We're proud to support a project that will have both a lasting impact on students and be a source of talent in our community."

The gift has helped propel CSUSM's Blueprint for the Future fundraising campaign to 82% of its $200 million goal, underscoring broad support for a university dedicated to student success, social mobility and community engagement.

"Hunter Hall creates the conditions for the kind of collaboration our students will experience in their careers," said Jackie Trischman, dean of CSTEM. "We're grateful to Hunter Industries and other partners for making this possible and for helping us prepare our students to contribute to innovation across our region."

For more information on funding and naming opportunities for Hunter Hall, contact Mike Helé, director of philanthropy, at 760-750-8401 or [email protected].

Media Contact

Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist

[email protected] | Office: 760-750-7306