Smiles. Everyone was wearing a smile on the first day of classes in Knight Hall and Bauer Hall, Monday, March 17. The free coffee and donuts might have had something to do with the happy expressions, but chances are, it was the surprise and pleasure inspired by the sparkling glass Atrium drenching the new spaces with sunlight that made everyone smile.

Dean Gupta welcomed students, faculty and staff to the new buildings from the first level of the amphitheater-like Frick Forum. Chancellor Wrighton, Provost Holden Thorp, and Vice Chancellor Hank Webber joined the Dean in celebrating the business school’s expansion from two to four buildings on the Danforth Campus.

Provost Thorp posted this photo of the Atrium on Twitter with the message, “This is what architects mean when they say ‘natural light’.”

Steve Malter, associate dean and director of the undergraduate program, snapped this group of students in the cafe (below) and posted it on Twitter along with the photo (above) of the Chancellor addressing the early morning crowd before classes started at 8:30 a.m.

The first day in the new buildings ended with another all-school event – a happy hour in honor of St. Patrick’s Day put even bigger smiles on Olin faces.

Don’t forget to enter the SELFIE CONTEST. Fitbit wireless activity trackers will be awarded to winners every week for the next six weeks.