Huntsman School of Business begins fundraising efforts for a new building
By: Seth Hawkins
The Utah Statesman
Having outgrown the current business building, the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business is seeking to attract funds to build a new $40 million building, said Douglas Anderson, dean of the Huntsman School of Business.
The proposed 80,000-square-foot structure will be built to the south of the current Business building and will rest where Lund Hall currently stands. It will be wider than the current building, but not nearly as tall, rising to only five levels - roughly two-thirds the height of the current building - though each floor will be larger than the existing building. There will also be a connector between the two buildings that will cover the first three floors, containing informal study areas for students.
"The simple fact of the matter is we need a new business building because we've outgrown this one," Anderson said. "But we also want a different kind of business building, one where our students and faculty can interact much more spontaneously and easily."
Media Credit: Axis Architects
The different kind of building can be seen in the architecture, which incorporates much of the existing style on the north end of the new building, and shifts to a more modern look on the south face, Anderson said
In addition, the building incorporates a very horizontal design, as opposed to the vertical approach in the current business building, which Anderson said symbolizes the change in business over the years.
"In the 38 years since the George S. Eccles building was dedicated, the way business operates as well as the way business education is done, has fundamentally changed. In those days, business typically got done in functional silos or chimneys, and this building we're currently in reflects that in its architecture. This new building is much more about the horizontal cross boundary, interactive, team-oriented behavior in business, and models that in terms of learning spaces it will create."
The southeast corner of the building juts out with sharp angles and large window panels, which Anderson said will become an iconic figure as travelers drive to campus on Highway 89.
Media Credit: Axis Architects The 80,000-square-foot
Business building will be located south of the current
Business building, overtaking Lund Hall. The building
will cost $40 million for which fund raising has begun. As
seen in the left illustration, a stock ticker will keep students
up to date on the market changes.
"It's really an iconic structure in the sense that it will carry with it the elements of our brand, which include entrepreneurship, global vision and ethical leadership and excellence," Anderson said. "This is definitely edgy in the way that you're on the edge of the campus, looking over the south end of the valley. It sort of symbolizes the entrepreneurial risk taker, who goes out to the edge of business practice and invents new and creative things. It captures the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation and creativity that the Huntsman School of Business is all about."
But Anderson said he isn't building "a $40 million building to carry meaning. We're building it to meet real needs of our students and our faculty."
To meet those needs, the new building is slated to include a 300-seat auditorium and 125-seat auditorium, two 80-seat tiered classrooms, six 40-seat tiered classrooms, nine team study rooms, 40-plus faculty offices and a new business library. Three centers, designed to meet the three focuses of the college, are also proposed.
A new dean's office suite is proposed, as well as moving the school of accounting to the new building, though these plans are subject to change, Anderson said.
One aspect Anderson said he is excited for is an increase in places for students to meet between classes or as groups to work on homework and mingle with professors.
"Right now, our building is such that there is virtually no space for students to study between classes or hang out and have team study rooms," Anderson said. "We're trying to correct that with the renovation we do this summer, but this will expand that dramatically."
Before any of this can be realized, Anderson said the $40 million will need to be raised from donors and by requesting funds from the Legislature in the next legislative session. After the funds are given to the construction of the new agriculture building, the new business building is the highest priority for the university, Anderson said.
As part of the fund-raising process, there are opportunities for various parts of the building to be named after a donor, including the three centers, the business library, the atrium and the building itself, Anderson said. The college is seeking an anchor gift in the range of $10 million, which will determine naming rights, Anderson said.
While no firm deadlines for fund raising or the construction of the building have been set, Anderson said he would like to be in the new building in three years.