Regents approve fundraising for new business school building

At its February meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents approved leadership fundraising for a new 275,000-square-foot business school building that would expand the school's size and reach by nearly 40 percent.

The architectural design for the new Baylor business school building features a highly corporate and sustainable business environment, including a centerpiece atrium that will showcase some of the school's signature classrooms, such as the Southwest Securities Financial Markets Center. The design also includes a large 350-seat auditorium to accommodate guest lectures and special events, and a variety of classroom spaces that will fully incorporate the latest classroom technology for collaborative learning, innovation and problem solving. Regents heard a report on plans related to the building and viewed the architectural renderings of the potential new facility before approving fundraising. The project cost is estimated at $100 million.

"This has been a truly historic year for Baylor," said Richard Willis, BBA '81, MBA '82, chair of the Baylor Board of Regents. "At levels we have never approached before, we are witnessing record numbers of donors coming forward to provide gifts both large and small to advance some of the most important and exciting projects in university history. In light of the tremendously active role alumni have taken supporting financially the President's Scholarship Initiative and Baylor Stadium, we believe that Baylor Nation, which includes thousands of successful business school graduates, now stands ready to get behind our outstanding school of business to support construction of the building that will propel that program to new heights."

"We are delighted that Baylor Regents have authorized fundraising for this exciting new project," said Dr. Terry Maness, BA '71, MS '72, dean of the Hankamer School of Business. "We have so many extraordinarily successful and generous business school alumni with whom we have spoken over the years about a new building for our expanding assortment of top quality and innovative business programs. We are eager to share this good news and to work with them, and with all those who support our distinct mission, to help bring this dream to reality."

Baylor's business school was established 90 years ago at the behest of President Samuel Palmer Brooks, and over the years, it has been housed in Carroll Library, Old Main and the Bill Daniel Student Center, among other locations, before moving into its current space in 1960. Today, the Hankamer School of Business is home to approximately 3,000 Baylor students, accounting for some 20 percent of the student body.

In addition to fundraising for a new business school building, Regents approved two other projects: a $12 million refurbishment of South Russell Hall beginning this summer -- the first of several major renovations of Baylor residence halls -- and a $1.75 million build-out at the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC).

The refurbishment of South Russell will include updating rooms with new furniture and fixtures, creating new study, social and spiritual spaces, adding a living-learning component to the complex with a faculty-in-residence apartment and utilizing the lower level for a classroom, fitness area, game room and lounge. The project will begin this summer and is expected to be completed by fall 2014.

The BRIC build-out will create more than 7,500 square feet of symposium and training space.