Gateway symbolically opened

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Gateway Community College is beginning a new chapter.

The ribbon was cut on a long-awaited downtown New Haven facility that will bring thousands of students into the Elm City.

"It's really big, it's really nice," said student Biancesca Rivera.

$198 million and more than a decade all lead up to this moment, symbolically opening Gateway Community College's new campus in New Haven Wednesday morning.

"It's awesome," Rivera said. "It's a great feeling."

"The library is stupendous. The cafeteria is nice," said Dr. Dorsey Kendrick, the college's president. "The students have space, the windows, the classrooms."

Ninety new classrooms will serve 11,000 or so students, but it's the nuance as much as the numbers that impresses.

"The way we produce electricity, the way we get our power, how we manage paper usage, everything about the building is green," explained Evelyn Gard, the college's public relations director.

Almost enough to make a guy want to do it all over again.

"When I was going to college, the idea of space and light and openness, thermal heating, all would have been beyond most imaginations," Senator Richard Blumenthal said.

"There are things you'd like to do and there are things that are essential to do. Investments in these kinds of facilities are essential things if we're going to get Connecticut back on its feet and create jobs," said Mayor John DeStefano.

Integral to that, it's hoped the new facility will ultimately boost graduation rates.

"We want people to take courses but we really want them to get their associates degree and then, within the same system, go on and get their four-year degree at one of our state universities," said Governor Dannel Malloy.

Classes begin at the new Gateway campus on Tuesday, September 4th.