The College of Management has achieved its $45 million fundraising goal to cover the cost of its new home without requiring state support.

The 189,000-square-foot Management building, part of the eight-acre Technology Square complex in Midtown Atlanta, is one of the first Georgia Tech facilities to be fully funded privately.

More than 250 donors, many of whom made gifts and commitments at the major-gift level of $25,000 to $5 million, participated. More than $26 million was secured in the last 13 months.

"The majority of these donors are first-time major givers to the College, representing our rapidly growing base of supporters," says Terry C. Blum, dean of the business school. "Our trust in the generous support and leadership of our donors enabled us to accelerate our move into our spectacular new home."

Construction began in September 2001, and the College moved into the state-of-the-art building at 800 West Peachtree Street in July 2003. Only one of three buildings in Atlanta certified by the US Green Building Council for environmentally friendly design, the facility is at the heart of the Midtown renaissance.

"Locating the College of Management in the midst of Atlanta's high-tech business community further has enriched the educational experience of our students and opened new avenues of collaboration with start-up companies as well as the city's high-tech giants," says Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough.

Now the "front door" of the Georgia Tech campus, Technology Square also includes the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, the Global Learning and Conference Center, Economic Development Institute, Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development, and retail and restaurant space in addition to the College of Management.

Equipped with the latest educational technology, the Management building has evened the playing field for the College of Management to compete with the nation's other top tier business programs. Further advancement will require sustained effort, Blum says.

"Together we can build on this tremendous success with a focused effort to retain and attract the best and brightest faculty, students, and staff who share our passion for Georgia Tech and the desire to reach our full potential," she says. "Our fundraising efforts will now largely focus on increasing our endowment and operational resources to support our faculty, students, programs, and other strategic priorities."