Extension, MBA programs to occupy 107,125 square-feet under 15-year lease starting Jan. 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, November 18, 2005 -- San Francisco State University announced today in conjunction with the Westfield Group that it plans to create a Downtown Campus in the heart of San Francisco's central business district. Westfield Centre, the office component of the $440 million Westfield San Francisco Centre development under construction, has been selected as home to the new Downtown Campus. The University will rent 107,125 square-feet at the 835 Market St. location under a 15-year lease, with occupancy scheduled for the start of the spring semester in January 2007, bringing the office component of the Centre to 53 percent pre-leased 11 months before the project's grand opening.

The entire sixth floor, and a portion of the fifth floor, will be devoted to University activities and programs related to business, continuing education and community outreach. Two of the University's nine colleges will have a major presence at the Downtown Campus: The entire College of Extended Learning will move from its current location of approximately 50,000 square feet at 425 Market St., and all graduate programs in the College of Business will be located at the new campus. Jointly, the programs serve about 7,700 students per year at that location.

"San Francisco State's alumni drive the region's economy, and it is time for us to have a major academic presence in the heart of the business community," SFSU President Robert A. Corrigan said. "The Westfield Centre offers our business and extended learning students -- many of whom are working professionals -- a location with unparalleled access to public transportation, parking, restaurants and services."

College of Business Dean Nancy Hayes said that moving the MBA and executive MBA programs to the Downtown Campus will serve two purposes. "We will bring excellent graduate business education to where the market is, and free up much-needed space at the main campus for serving our large undergraduate population," she said.

SFSU enrolls nearly 30,000 students per year pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees in eight colleges, and an average of 10,000 students per year completing certificate programs, open university classes and continuing education courses in its College of Extended Learning.

"An expanded downtown campus will significantly enrich the continuing education opportunities that the College of Extended Learning provides to the San Francisco Bay Area community," said College of Extended Learning Dean Gail Whitaker.

"As part of the 1.5 million square-foot mixed-use development San Francisco State University is assisting us in our quest to awaken San Francisco's newest and most dynamic business address," said Steve Eimer, vice president development, Westfield. "And by being located in the Centre the University will benefit from the prestige, convenience, and energy of one of the most unique office, shopping and entertainment destinations anywhere in the world."

At a total of 245,000 square-feet, Westfield Centre's office space is the largest new Class A block available in the Union Square and Mid-Market Street districts and will have a separate lobby entrance and elevators with direct access from Market Street. Students of the University will enjoy views of historic Market Street and the Centre's dramatic 102-foot-wide steel and glass dome and rotunda from their vantage point of the eight story project. The combination of modern amenities, historic character and a central location within a magnificent retail, dining and entertainment venue creates an opportunity for the University that is unmatched in the City.

The Westfield San Francisco Centre is scheduled to open September 2006 and will be home to the West Coast flagship of Bloomingdale's and the second largest Nordstrom in the country. The Centre will feature a mix of 170 specialty stores and exclusive boutiques, fine dining, The Food Emporium featuring a gourmet market and 15 fast casual gourmet eateries, first-class office space and a nine-screen state-of-the-art Century Theatres and CinéArts.

While the main campus of SFSU is located on 141 acres in the southwest corner of San Francisco, SFSU has facilities throughout Northern California for specialized teaching and research. These include the current Downtown Center, the 35-acre Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies in Marin County, and the Sierra Nevada Field Campus located on nine acres in the Sierra Nevada foothills.