(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, Ca) -  After decades as a dream and more than eight years in the works, the new Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center at San Diego State University opened its doors to the public.  Alumni, students, faculty and staff gathered at the historic grand opening event on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, which was proclaimed "Aztec for Life" day by the City of San Diego.

Funded entirely by donations from alumni and friends of the university, the elegant 30,000 square-foot facility will serve as both a gathering place and a gateway to campus for SDSU's more than 200,000 living alumni and the San Diego community.

"The university and its alumni are such an integral part of this community," said Jim Herrick, executive director of the SDSU Alumni Association.  "We hope everyone will think of this as a place to celebrate the important events of their lives with family and friends."

In fact, a celebration of friendship is what put fundraising for the $11 million center over the top.  Longtime friends Leon Parma, ('51), Bob Payne, ('55), and Jack Goodall, ('60) together contributed $2.7 million to name the new facility.  Known around San Diego as "the three amigos," Parma, Payne and Goodall are steadfast in their support for SDSU.

SDSU alumnus Steve Nelson of Midwest General, Inc., the construction manager on the project, said the building is not only beautiful but also one of the most sustainable on campus.  The Spanish style roof is recycled from the previous Alumni Association offices and the building is outfitted with high-efficiency windows, heavy insulation and day lighting to make it more energy efficient. 

Outside, the building's most imposing feature is its rotunda, a Stonehenge-like structure designed to echo the architecture of Viejas Arena, which sits a few hundred yards across the intersection of 55th Street and Aztec Walk.  At the rotunda's center rests a replica of sculptor Donal Hord's iconic 1937 creation, "Aztec," a statue nicknamed early on and instantly recognizable to generations of San Diego State students as "Monty."

From the sculpture's base extend rows of stone pavers set in six lines and resembling the spokes of a wheel.  Each of the more than 480 stones bears the name and message of an Aztec alum or friend.
Inside, visitors will be greeted by an expansive lobby sporting a prominent exposition of the center's major donors.  Other displays showcase historical elements from the university such as Daily Aztec headlines and campus photos dating back to SDSU's founding in 1897.

The Allen Bailey Library - named for the late SDSU professor, administrator, and alumnus - will contain works by Aztec authors and provide a comfortable gathering place for guests.  A grand ballroom with space for 214 will serve as the center's main location for events.
The Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center is available for use by the public for events, weddings and more.  For more information, contact the SDSU Alumni Association at (619) 594-ALUM.

Written by Gina Jacobs