Officials from Sport & Medical Sciences Academy (SMSA) and the city attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for SMSA on September 5. The 158,000 s/f building became home to 725 students when it officially opened on August 25. Designed by DuBose Associates Architects, the $71 million project is considered a major success. "With the help of the construction manager and architect, SMSA is a landmark project completed under budget while exceeding most of its program goals," said Joe DeSanti of Diggs Construction, program director of the school construction program. The project will likely be $2-3 million under budget. Forty-three percent of the workforce were women and minorities and 30% of the workforce were Hartford residents. Officials took a tour of the school's concourse, nine science labs, a gym that holds 1000 people, two fitness centers and the field house that includes a rock-climbing wall.