New business school to open in fall 2008

By Liz O'Brien

For the first time in more than eight decades, the Leavey School of Business will acquire a centralized location when its new building opens next fall.

The construction of the new 86,000-square-foot structure, which will offer two-and-a-half times the space of Kenna Hall, is currently on schedule for completion by fall of 2008, according to Donna Perry, assistant dean for marketing and communications in the Leavey School of Business.

While most of the university's major projects do not start without fundraising fully completed, the business school began construction last spring with $7 million left to raise.

"Generally, the university doesn't want us to start construction when we don't have all the money in hand," said Perry, "but because we can get some synergy from the library construction â?¦ the university trustees voted in May to allow us to break ground and start construction."

The business school has not had a centralized location since the 1920s, when its main offices were located in a men's dormitory. Kenna Hall, currently the main facility of the business school, is also used by other departments, causing the need for expansion.

"As we grew, we found that we had faculty in five different places and classrooms all over the place," said Perry. "We needed to get people together -- for faculty to collaborate, for students to be able to work with all of their professors and work together. We need a central location."

Currently, the business school offices and classrooms are scattered throughout five locations throughout campus, including St. Joseph's Hall, Kenna Hall and a residence on Market Street.

"Frankly, it's just hard to have a cohesive unit when you're physically separated," said Perry.

The new three-story complex will offer 12 classrooms, 90 faculty offices and a cybercafé in its main floor lobby. In addition to traditionally designed classrooms, the building will house 16 breakout rooms, as well as six executive conference rooms. The two-story atrium main entrance will face the Arts and Sciences Building and will feature a concierge-styled business service center.

"When you talk about the impact of this building on non-business students and the rest of the university, it's going to free up a sizeable space for offices, for classrooms both in St. Joseph's and Kenna Hall," said Perry.

The project is being funded solely through private gifts, according to Perry, and fundraising is still in progress.

"We think the building ultimately will cost about $49 million, and we've got $40 million in hand," said Perry. "It's hard to tell, but we definitely see the end of fundraising soon."

Devcon, the general contractor, is currently in their ninth month of construction. Though the business school construction and the Learning Commons, Technology Center and Library construction are being contracted through the same company, the two projects have separate project managers and schedules.

Devcon declined to comment on the construction schedule.

The project's completion will mark a change for the entire campus, but will especially impact the daily routine of business students.

"I think it's going to definitely help out," said sophomore Matt Saydah, a business student. "Now we have to go to Kenna and all over the place to get to our classes, but with the new building, we'll have a place where we know that all of our business classes are going to be."

Contact Liz O'Brien at (408) 554-4546 or eobrien@scu.edu.