On May 6 and 7, California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo celebrated the groundbreaking for its new Center for Construction Excellence, a state-of-the-art facility that will house the university's Construction Management Department. The 58,000-square-foot facility will include lecture and classroom space, labs, and offices.

One of the laboratories planned is a 5,000-square-foot, two-story demonstration lab sponsored by Simpson Strong-Tie that will provide interdisciplinary training in planning, design, engineering, and construction, according to an announcement. Other labs will allow for hands-on training in specific construction segments, including construction management, residential construction, and commercial construction.

The Center for Construction Excellence at Cal Poly is scheduled to open in the summer of 2008.