Students complete first week of classes at Seidman Center

After nearly two years of construction, the new L. William Seidman Center, located at 50 Front St. in downtown Grand Rapids, opened for classes May 6.

The center is named for Bill Seidman, founding chair of Grand Valley's Board of Trustees and former FDIC chair. It features a state-of-the-art financial markets trading room, 15 break-out team rooms for student interaction, case rooms and innovative cluster classrooms.

The 127,643-square-foot building houses the state and regional office of the Small Business and Technology Development Center, the Van Andel Global Trade Center, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Center for Leadership and Innovation.

In its 40-year history, the Seidman College of Business has grown from 145 students to more than 3,000.

A community open house will be held October 12.