Cuesta College President Gil Stork, left, and Jim Copeland, whose family funded the building.

French Hospital Medical Center has taken the wraps off an 18,000-square-foot health and education facility it hopes will forge closer ties between the hospital and higher education in San Luis Obispo.

With about 200 business and community leaders standing by, CEO Alan Iftinik unveiled the Copeland Health Education Pavilion.

Iftinik said the building, which is attached to the hospital but doesn’t include patient facilities, is the next phase in an effort to bring “smart technology education” to the hospital campus.

The three-story building was funded largely by the Copeland family, a major real estate holder and the former owner of a chain of sporting goods stores in the region.

“It opens another chapter in family leadership,” said Gil Stork, president of Cuesta College.

The facility will allow Cal Poly and Cuesta students to receive training and also conduct research. One study already in the works is a look at adult obesity and how it affects pregnant moms and dads in San Luis Obispo.

The multi-million dollar facility includes a number of meeting rooms that will be available for nonprofits, an incubator for science students and an auditorium that can accommodate 298 people for receptions.

• Contact Editor Henry Dubroff at hdubroff@pacbiztimes.com.