Cal State San Marcos gets $10 million donation to help build major science and engineering center

California State University San Marcos has received a $10 million donation from one of its most important benefactors to help build a major science and engineering center that is key to the university’s future growth.

The donation was made by Hunter Industries of San Marcos, a global manufacturer of products that aid landscape irrigation and lighting. The $110 million building is expected to be named for the company, which has supported the school’s academic and sports programs for decades.

The center, scheduled to open in 2027, will enable Cal State San Marcos to serve about 2,000 engineering majors, instead of the 300 it has now. There is a growing demand for STEM graduates in North County, home to such companies as ViaSat and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

CSUSM is in the midst of a major fundraising campaign whose gifts now total about $65 million with the new donation.

“This gift is a game-changer in being able to continue to build out engineering,” said Ellen Neufeldt, the school’s president.

Hunter Industries CEO Greg Hunter said in a statement, “An educated workforce is the foundation of a thriving economy.”