Building Excellence

MBA Addition to Grainger Hall Progresses

In spring of 2006, a $40.5 million addition to Grainger Hall will move from the drawing board to the construction site. Groundbreaking is planned on an addition to house the MBA program of the School of Business, with completion in fall 2008.

Among the building’s highlights:

• A home for each of the 13 MBA career specializations that make up the new Wisconsin MBA.
• Centralized resources for MBA students, including state-of-the-art classrooms, MBA Program Office, MBA Career Center, computer lab, breakout rooms and a unique multi-purpose Plenary Room.
• Upgraded office space and classrooms for the Executive MBA and Evening MBA programs.
• Amenities for executives and business alumni who visit Grainger Hall.
• An enlarged and improved outdoor courtyard open to the Madison community.

Although the goal is to provide an outstanding facility comparable to those of other top MBA programs, it will also allow enhanced programming for undergraduate business students. “Expanding the role of student organizations and other leadership opportunities for undergraduates is one of our top priorities,” said Senior Associate Dean James Johannes. “The addition will provide significant space for our student organizations and offer communal space that we just haven’t had before. I think it’s going to have a major impact on the undergraduate experience we can offer.” In addition to space provided by the addition, the original space in Grainger Hall will be reconfigured in ways that will provide many benefits for undergraduates, according to Johannes. “We’re going to be able to expand the space available for the Business Career Center, create an undergraduate computer lab for undergrads directly under the library and bring a wide range of undergraduate student services together in one location.”

Alumni Director Alisa Robertson is pleased with the extra space provided for visiting alumni. “We often have business alumni visit Grainger Hall, either just on a campus visit or because they are speaking to a class or serving on an advisory board. We’ll now have the space to help them get the most out of their visit,” Robertson said.

The 125,000-square-foot five-story addition to Grainger Hall has an estimated cost of $40.5 million. A gift from David W. Grainger will cover $20 million of the cost and $10 million will be generated by general fund-supported borrowing. An additional $10.5 million in gift funds is being raised through naming opportunities.

School of Business Dean Michael M. Knetter predicted that every area of the school will benefit when the new, improved Grainger Hall opens its doors: “We’re already making great strides in terms of people and programs; this is going to give us a physical facility to match.”