CSUSM to Celebrate Grand Opening of Viasat Engineering Pavilion

Editor's note: The ribbon-cutting scheduled for March 20, 2020 was postponed due to the pandemic. The event has since been rescheduled for March 11, 2022.

Cal State San Marcos will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Friday, March 20 to celebrate the grand opening of the university’s Viasat Engineering Pavilion.

The pavilion is named in honor of the Carlsbad-based company that provided a $1.5 million gift to become the founding partner of CSUSM’s electrical and software engineering programs. Viasat’s gift helped the university renovate classroom and lab space, purchase new equipment and instrumentation, and support the work of students and faculty.

“Building engineering at CSUSM has been, from the start, about creating the very best program possible to help foster a diverse talent pipeline,” CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said.

Neufeldt, Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg and CSUSM College of Science and Mathematics Dean Katherine Kantardjieff are among the scheduled speakers for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Viasat Engineering Pavilion is located in the former Foundation Classroom Building, which was home to CSUSM’s Extended Learning program before the opening of the new Extended Learning Building last fall. The first phase of the Viasat Engineering Pavilion renovation – creating software and electrical engineering labs and a collaborative space – was completed in August. The second phase, which created offices, the Hunter Design Lab and the Nordson Innovation Lab, was completed last month.

Viasat has been a longtime supporter of numerous programs across CSUSM, and the company has been an especially strong supporter of the university’s College of Science and Mathematics.

“Viasat is engaged with CSUSM and our community for the common good, moving forward together to enhance the intellectual and economic life of our region and the state,” Kantardjieff said. “Viasat believes in the university’s importance in our region’s success. It has recognized CSUSM as the four-year university in North County, and it has helped the College of Science and Mathematics build our brand and identity as a hub and a catalyst for workforce development and technical innovation.”

Software engineering launched at CSUSM in fall 2018, and electrical engineering followed in fall 2019. The engineering program already has enrolled more than 125 students.

What: Ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate grand opening of Viasat Engineering Pavilion, home to CSUSM’s electrical and software engineering programs

When: Noon, Friday, March 20

Where: Viasat Engineering Pavilion on the campus of Cal State San Marcos

Parking: For driving directions, campus map and parking fees, visit the CSUSM Parking Guide