University Enterprises, Inc., an auxiliary nonprofit corporation of Sacramento State, has purchased a building downtown at 304 S street to house a new School of Public Affairs.

The three-story, 30,610 square-feet building was bought for $5.4 million and, according to a message from Sac State President Robert Nelsen, no state funds were used in the purchase. 

Nelsen’s message included quotes from prominent figures in local politics, such as Mayor Kevin Johnson, Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Assembly member Kevin McCarty, all praising the university’s expansion in the downtown area.

Nelsen said that the building could be open and hosting classes as early as August when the fall semester begins.

Robert Wassmer, acting chair of the Public Policy & Administration Graduate Program, said he believes that President Nelsen is committed to getting the school open as soon as possible, but that some work needs to be done to set up the space to be used as classrooms.

The building has been vacant for a year, but it previously housed law offices for Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld, LLP. 

“Initially, we’re going to offer probably the majority of our Masters in Public Policy and Administration classes down there,” Wassmer said. “There are some plans to offer some undergraduate classes down there, particularly in clinical science, government, maybe economics, things that might have more of a public policy, government type of focus.”