The Centre of Excellence was formally inaugurated at a well attended ceremony by the Hon. Minister for Higher & Technical Education, Medical Education and Energy of the Government of Maharashtra Shri Dilip Walse-.Patil. Also present on the occasion were Guests of Honor Smt. Annie Shekhar, MLA for the constituency, Dr. A. D. Sawant, Pro-vice chancellor, University of Mumbai, Dr. Jayant P. Dighe, Registrar, University of Mumbai, and Prof. N. B. Pasalkar, Director of Technical Education. Autodesk Inc. were represented by their senior executives Ms. Stacy Trout, Dr. Jack Gao, Mr. Jon Pittman and Mr. Rajiv Nair. The President of the Indian Institute of Architects Shri Gurunath Dalvi also graced the occasion. The launch was well attended by Principals, HODs and Deans of severalinstitutes of Architecture and Art, faculty members in architecture from all over the city, senior Alumni of Sir JJ College of Architecture, prominent architects and students of architecture.

In his speech Hon. Minister Shri Dilip Walse-Patil desired that the Centre would benefit both the industry and profession at large with the means and opportunities to accomplish research and development. Prof. N. B. Pasalkar talked about the benefits of private-public partnership in the strategic areas of professional education. Dr. A. D. Sawant expressed happiness that such ventures coincided with the sesquicentennial year of the University of Mumbai. Senior executives from Autodesk Jack Gao and Jon Pittman both explained the policies of Autodesk, their initiatives in India and the specific partnership with Sir JJ College of Architecture.