Plans are underway to make Grainger Hall a much more student-friendly gathering space and learning environment.
Enhancing the Physical Facility
Buildings and the physical environment play an important role in the cultural climate of organizations. When done correctly, they can greatly enhance community and communication. In higher education, having the right facilities can accelerate efforts to create and transfer knowledge.
In March 2004, the first step was taken toward a major enhancement to the building that houses the degree programs of the School of Business. David W. Grainger made a $20 million gift, one of the largest in the history of the university, for an addition to Grainger Hall.
The addition will provide a home for each of the MBA career specializations that make up the full-time Wisconsin MBA and offer centralized resources for MBA students. It will provide space to deliver graduate programs rich in applied team projects and provide a professional environment for visiting executive and current and prospective students. It also will provide upgraded facilities and classrooms for the Executive MBA and Evening MBA programs and free up much-needed space in the original section of Grainger Hall for faculty, staff, undergraduate students and PhD candidates.
Originally, the addition was expected to open in 2007. As a cost-saving measure, the decision was made in summer 2005 to push back the project by a year, to allow a redesign after bids came in over budget. Key elements of the planned addition still include common spaces to unify the School of Business community and facilities to better meet the needs of visiting alumni and corporate constituents. In addition to the $20 million Grainger gift, funding for the addition will come from $10.5 million in gift funds and $10 million in general fund-supported borrowing.
The importance of outstanding physical facilities can be seen in the recent success of the Executive Education program of the School of Business. Since the Fluno Center for Executive Education opened in 2000 as one of the premiere executive education centers in the nation, the program has achieved new benchmarks of excellence. For the last two years, Fluno Center's food and accommodations have been named the best in the world by the Financial Times.
Our goal is to continually upgrade facilities for all School of Business offerings to match the caliber of our people and programs.
Looking Ahead
Ground breaking on the addition is scheduled for spring 2006. An enhanced Grainger Hall, providing a welcoming environment for students, alumni and recruiters, is expected to open in fall 2008.