Hundreds gather to dedicate Snead and East halls

Students and faculty have enjoyed studying and working in the new, 240,000 square-foot Schools of Business and Engineering complex since the spring semester began in January, lending momentum to the official dedication of the world-class facility this week with scores of people who made it possible – state lawmakers, local officials, donors, construction contractors and architects.

The theme of the April 9 dedication ceremony was partnerships, the premise upon which the most ambitious construction project in the history of Virginia Commonwealth University was undertaken. The result is Snead Hall, VCU’s new School of Business Building, and East Hall, the second building for VCU’s School of Engineering.

“The unique juxtaposition of business and engineering in this complex drives the synergy of the students, professors and programs and creates an academic village that includes state-of-the-art lecture halls and laboratories, common area and a residential college,” said VCU President Eugene P. Trani.

“This visionary venture positions the VCU Schools of Business and Engineering to be at the leading edge of cross-disciplinary collaboration and teamwork, and helps us to attract students who want to understand the application of management and mathematics, science and systems, problem solving and new product development and analysis,” Trani said.

Trani acknowledged all the partnerships that came together to make the facility, and the learning and teaching that goes on inside it, possible. He cited the work of the School of Business and School of Engineering foundations, which together raised $128.5 million for the unrestricted endowment of scholarships, professorships, research support and annual operating support.

“This is an economic development answer,” said Gov. Timothy Kaine. “Investment in higher education allows us to accelerate and be competitive on a national and global scale, and VCU is connecting in powerful ways with this community and beyond.”

Bricks and mortar
VCU Rector Thomas Rosenthal applauded the project team of VCU administrators, particularly in the Facilities Management Department, and the architects, construction contractors and subcontractors for building an extraordinary academic complex.

“We dreamed it and they built it,” he said.

Commitment to Education
The mayor of Richmond, L. Douglas Wilder, said the partnerships that came together to produce the new complex and the new approach to locating business and engineering faculty and students together underscore a commitment to education and to the community that is good for everyone.

“I am pleased with the growth at VCU and what it means to those of us who love the city,” he said. “What you do you do for Richmond.”
   
The president of the VCU School of Engineering Foundation Board, Paul Rocheleau, said the new building houses programs that produce levels of value creation. “First and foremost are the young people graduating from this program, who are extremely well prepared to meet the challenges in this complex world,” he said.

Rocheleau added that “there is energy in this building and it is important to recognize that this is just a milestone – we want to do more.”

“Look around you and see that our School of Business is surrounded by business,” said Steve Markel, chair of the VCU School of Business Foundation. “From classroom to internships … students have experience that is relevant and exciting. VCU educates business-ready students.”

Tom and Vickie Snead, for whom the new School of Business building is named, expressed their appreciation of the opportunities they have had as VCU alumni and their anticipation of  the opportunities that current and future students will have who study in the new facility.

“This institution has meant so much to us for so long, and we are thrilled and excited for what this institution means for the future,” said Tom Snead, a member of the VCU Board of Visitors and VCU Health System Board and 1976 alumnus of the VCU School of Business.

Forty years and forward
State Sen. Donald McEachin congratulated the university community for its achievements and said that the building illustrates the success that arises when the state and the public work together on a project. 

“I moved to Richmond in 1969 and am pleased to see how VCU has changed the landscape of the city and changed the pulse of the community,” he said. “As the largest public university in the Commonwealth of Virginia, VCU has evolved over the past 40 years, becoming a leader in higher education by making remarkable strides in education, research and patient care.”

McEachin then read two resolutions passed by the General Assembly that commend VCU on the occasion of its 40th anniversary in 2008, and that officially designate July 1 of this year as Virginia Commonwealth University Day in the Commonwealth, on the 40th anniversary of the university.