Cornell Hall, new home of the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Business, is fitted with the latest in technology and flexible classroom design. University officials will show off the new facility to 1,000 guests at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, during the building’s dedication.
“The combination of our bright and involved students, our dedicated and innovative faculty and staff, and this magnificent new building is truly a giant step toward MU becoming one of the top public business schools in the nation,” said Bruce Walker, dean of the College of Business. “The building’s technology will allow faculty to employ electronic instructional tools, to access online information, to interact with speakers from around the world, and to educate students on the use of technology in business and accounting.”
“The new facility is not an end in itself or an end to our commitment to ongoing enhancement,” Walker said. “Rather, Cornell Hall in an important means by which we’ll provide our students with a better educational experience and our faculty with a superior environment for teaching and research.”
Of the $30 million project cost, the state of Missouri appropriated about $17 million. MU added $1 million, and more than 3,000 alumni have donated more than $11 million.
“This building is a testament to what we can accomplish when the state of Missouri, the university and our alumni, friends and supporters work together,” said MU Chancellor Richard Wallace. “Not only will this facility train some of our country’s best and brightest leaders, but it also will serve as a constant reminder of the important role our alumni play in our campus’ success.”
Harry and Ann Cornell, for whom the building is named, donated $3.5 million in conjunction with Leggett & Platt for the building and a professorship in information systems. For more than 40 years, Cornell served as the CEO of Leggett & Platt, a Fortune 500 company located in Carthage, Mo.
The building allows the college’s faculty, staff, students, academic units and research and service agencies to be housed under one roof rather than in four buildings as in the past. Each classroom features a ceiling-hung projector, dedicated computer, DVD/VCR player, network connection and document camera. Two-way video, via satellite or Internet, is available in all classrooms through dedicated cameras or portable equipment. Numerous data ports and e-mail kiosks have been installed in student lounge areas in the new building.
The neo-Georgian appearance complements the Reynolds Alumni Center and the School of Law’s Hulston Hall on the South Quadrangle of the campus and nearby Jesse Hall. The facility’s 150,000 sq.ft./13,940 m2 is enhanced by a naturally lit atrium; all six floors can be viewed from the lobby.
“We designed the building to blend with the tradition of Missouri on the outside and to hold the key to the future of Missouri inside,” said Pat Clancy, Ellerbe Becket project manager. “We worked with faculty and students to create a place that emphasizes flexibility and technology. There is network and database accessibility in practically all areas, and flexible teaching spaces allow class interaction, teamwork and small group activities.”
Cornell Hall includes 16 classrooms, a computer lab, two computer-equipped classrooms, a 500-seat auditorium, a 125-seat lecture hall, 13 small breakout rooms, and offices for faculty, staff, graduate assistants, academic and support units, and research and service agencies.
Established in 1914, the programs at the College of Business were among the first in the nation to be accredited, and the college was a leader in offering the PhD degree in business-related fields. Several of the college’s degree programs have earned top-50 national rankings. Members of the College of Business faculty have been honored with numerous awards for their outstanding teaching.
The college’s tradition of high-quality scholarship and teaching remains strong. More than 3,400 students are pursuing degrees in accountancy, finance, management, marketing and international business, and nearly 29,000 alumni contribute their expertise to organizations around the world. The college aspires to be one of the top-20 public business schools in the nation, distinguished by innovation and excellence in collaborative education activities with alumni, business partners and academic colleagues.
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