School of Communication and Media Celebrates Grand Opening of New Home

A ribbon cutting ceremony on September 26 marked the official opening of the new, high-tech, multimedia School of Communication and Media Building at Montclair State. Event guests, who included alumni, University board members, state legislators, faculty, staff and students, toured the building after the ceremony.

“We believe this is the most technologically advanced media and production facility of any university in North America and that it is, in fact, more advanced that many professional facilities,” Montclair State University President Susan A. Cole said. According to Cole, the new building supports the University’s commitment to serving the state and the nation as a national- and state-designated research doctoral university – and gives students the competitive edge they need to succeed in rapidly evolving industries.  

Cole described the building as “a tool box” that will “unleash and enable our students’ education and creativity.”

Special guest New Jersey State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg expressed her hope that students will draw on the tools and resources of the new facility “to go out and change the world.”

The building features a range of tools and resources – from broadcast-ready 4K and HD studios and control rooms to multimedia labs and an advanced audio production center – designed and implemented through a strategic partnership between the University and Sony Electronics’ Professional Solutions Americas.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Sony Professional Solutions Americas President Katsunori Yamanouchi stressed that Sony was proud to play a pivotal role in creating products and active learning solutions that give students the experience and professional training they need to succeed.

College of the Arts Dean Daniel Gurskis noted that the building’s design fosters creative collaboration among students, faculty and students, as well as among students and professional partners.

“In our new building we will create outstanding and thoughtful content that is limited only by our imaginations,” said School of Communication and Media Director Keith Strudler. “With our media partners, we will make a vibrant hub of collaborative excellence. And we will foster a learning community that changes, lives, our community and that will perhaps change the world for the better.”

The new building, which has been dubbed “Hollywood East,” has been garnering media attention. Read some of the highlights by following the links below:

ROI-NJ: Sony enjoys benefits of growing relationship with Montclair State

News12: Montclair State opens new School of Communications & Media

Commercial Integrator: Sony Pro Supports Montclair State University Student Education with First End-to-End 4K Studio

NJ.com: See inside Montclair State’s new $55M School of Communication

NorthJersey.com: ‘Hollywood East’ opening soon at Montclair State University