When Alexandra Akosa-Sissoko graduated with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 2017, the site across Fifth Street from the Scheller College of Business was little more than a parking lot.
Now, Akosa-Sissoko has returned to Georgia Tech as a Full-time MBA student, and that parking lot has been transformed into George Tower | Scheller Tower, a striking new hub for innovation and collaboration.
“As I reflect on my own journey, such a transformation feels distinctly Georgia Tech,” said Akosa-Sissoko during remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The Institute has this remarkable way of expanding students’ horizons in directions you never saw coming, through academic rigor, no doubt, but more importantly through an amazing community that supports you along the way.”
While the new building reflects her journey of interdisciplinary growth, it also creates opportunities for current and future students to connect across disciplines, broaden their perspectives, and tackle complex challenges together.
A Ribbon-Cutting to Remember
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the culmination of years of collaboration among campus leaders, donors, alumni, and state partners and signaled a new era for interdisciplinary education and research.
Officially named George Tower | Scheller Tower, the 416,500-square-foot complex houses the Scheller College of Business and the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISYE) in two connected towers.
“The new towers will help us attract the best talent by bringing students, faculty, and researchers into the same ecosystem,” said Anuj Mehrotra, dean of the Scheller College of Business.
“ISYE and Scheller have long been neighbors,” he said, acknowledging Pinar Keskinocak, H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair and professor. “Now, we have the opportunity to become true partners.”
For Mehrotra, the moment carried special significance because of the family whose name the building bears. He thanked Ernest "Ernie" Scheller Jr. and the Scheller family for their enduring support of the College and honored the memory of Roberta Scheller, whose generosity helped establish the Scheller name at Georgia Tech.
"Ernie, you believed in what this college could become," Mehrotra said. "Look at what we built."
A Building Designed to Inspire
Alumnus Kofi Smith, who earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from ISYE and his MBA from the Scheller College of Business, joined the celebration with his parents and two sons. Standing inside the completed facility, Smith described what it meant to see the two colleges connected in a shared physical space.
"I wish they had this when I was here," Smith said. "Just being in this environment is inspiring. I’m certain it’s exciting for students to know they’re attending an institution capable of creating something like these towers."
The connection between the two towers reflects Smith's own Georgia Tech experience. He said the naming of the seventh-floor “Smith Nexus” in honor of his parents made the day especially meaningful.
"This is a moment in life that I will never forget," Smith said. "To be a Double Jacket, to be here with my mom and dad, for them to be alive to see this dedication with their name on a plaque, and for it to be named after them in perpetuity is amazing."
A Legacy of Generosity
The celebration served as a tribute to the donors whose investments helped bring the project to life. Speakers recognized the support of the George, Scheller, and Stewart families, along with many other contributors whose commitment demonstrates a shared belief in the future of Georgia Tech students and the state's innovation economy.
For Ernie Scheller Jr., seeing the completed facility was both humbling and deeply personal as he celebrated his 97th birthday.
"I always thought I was a lucky guy," he said. "I was born lucky in so many ways. I was lucky to go to Georgia Tech, and probably even luckier to get out. When I arrived at the new building this morning, I felt lucky to be in this position, to see a college and now a building named after me. This day is among the most wonderful of my 97 years.”
The Job is Never Done
Provost Raheem Beyah expressed optimism for the countless experiences, discoveries, and achievements the building will host in years to come.
He encouraged visitors to tour the building and pay attention to the ribbons marking the plaques scattered throughout the towers’ 18 floors. Each identifies a donor and reflects a legacy of generosity.
“These recognitions serve as a visible reminder of the many individuals and families who chose to invest in Georgia Tech and its students,” Beyah said. “Every named space tells a story of generosity, commitment, and belief in the power of education.”
Recognizing the collective effort required to bring the project from vision to reality, Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera thanked the donors, alumni, and supporters whose contributions made the project possible. He pointed to a new chapter taking shape in Tech Square.
"The job is never done," Cabrera said. “Go Jackets!”
For the students who will learn, collaborate, and launch new ideas within its walls, George Tower | Scheller Tower stands as both a testament to collective investment and a reminder that Georgia Tech's next chapter is just beginning.