Georgia Tech College of Management will dedicate its new Acuity Brands Plaza at 7:30 p.m. on Monday September 8 in front of the business school's building at 800 West Peachtree Street.

The event is timed for guests to appreciate the striking, new energy-efficient lighting that accentuates the Acuity Brands Plaza's role as a gateway from Midtown Atlanta into the Management building and Technology Square. The event is open to the community.

Atlanta-based Acuity Brands made a seven-figure gift to enable the renovation of the plaza during the spring and summer. "We are excited to have Acuity Brands not only as a key supporter of the College, but also as a neighbor and partner in the dynamic and innovative community that Midtown has become," says College of Management Dean Steve Salbu, who will speak at the dedication.

"Corporate support is becoming increasingly important in our efforts to educate the technological leaders of tomorrow, and this very generous gift embodies the principle of good corporate citizenship that is core to Acuity Brands' identity," Salbu adds.

Also speaking at the dedication will be John Hartman, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Acuity Brands Lighting; William Astary, senior vice president of sales for Acuity Brands Lighting; and Gary Schuster, provost and interim president of Georgia Tech.

Acuity Brands (NYSE:AYI) employs 7,000 people and has operations throughout North America, as well as in Europe and Asia. Numerous Georgia Tech alumni work at Acuity Brands, whose subsidiaries provide internships for Tech students and continue to recruit the Institute's graduates. Acuity Brands Lighting, a subsidiary of Acuity Brands, is one of the world's leading providers of lighting products and services. The company has previously supported Georgia Tech athletics and the Center for Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems, in addition to working closely with the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering on lighting research.

Employing the latest energy-efficient technology, the lighting in the new plaza includes LED twinkle lights that run through the new pavers of the pedestrian-friendly area, creating a dazzling effect under the night sky. The plaza redesign eliminated drive-through traffic and added an expanse of grassy area, trees, and new outdoor furnishings to heighten the appeal of the area to the Technology Square community.

Those interested in attending the dedication event should contact Nina White at 404.894.1221 or rsvp@dev.gatech.edu.