DURHAM — University of New Hampshire officials offered a first look inside the developing Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics on Tuesday, which is under construction in the center of campus.

The 115,000-square-foot building across from Stoke Hall is scheduled to open in January, just one week before the second semester begins.

Ground was broken on the $50 million project in May 2011.

Inside, the forms of a Great Hall, technologically advanced classrooms, dedicated break-out space for students and an executive development suite for non-degree programs are taking shape.

Daniel Innis, the Dean of the Whittemore School of Business and Economics said what he is most excited about is the community spaces being created.

WSBE is currently housed in McConnell Hall and the business program has well outgrown the space, which was designed to accommodate 1,000 students. There are currently 2,100 undergraduates enrolled in WSBE, with that number expected to grow, as well as about 300 graduate students.

Innis said a lot of learning takes place outside of the classroom, and providing spaces, like breakout rooms, a café and the great hall entry allows students the opportunity to stay in the building once classes are over.

“It is really about the students. It was built with students in mind, with student education in mind and with helping New Hampshire businesses in mind,” Innis said.

Technology is also a key component of the building. Faculty will have the ability to “capture” their courses with the click of a button, which will draw the shades, dim the lights and record the lesson for students to review later.

John LaBonte, director of finance and planning for the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, said $3.1 million of the $50 million budget went into technology. The building will feature no less than 75 wireless access points, VOIP telephone systems, course capture, video conferencing, smart boards, and more.

The main entrance of the building will be on the first floor across from the Thompson Hall lawn.

The building also features a full commercial kitchen for the hospitality management program.

The building will be LEED Gold certified when it is complete.

UNH has the only Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, or AACSB, accredited undergraduate business school in the state.

“We have an important and distinct role in the state in providing a quality business degree,” Innis said.

gmacalaster@newstote.com