New College of Business Building

In 2004, the College of Business embarked upon a quest to build a new building adjacent to Wohlers Hall. The 153,900 square foot building will cost $60M and will be largely funded through private gifts and state appropriations. The four story building will be split into two wings, one serving the graduate and MBA programs, and the other serving the undergraduate and accountancy programs. It will also be one of the first "green" designs on campus, with an 18-inch layer of soil across several areas of the roof, allowing grass, shrubs, and trees to grow on the roof. [1]

The initial design of the building was completed by Rafael Pelli and his father Cesar Pelli, who was responsible for the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The building will feature a striking modern architectural design with "a soaring commons look[ing] out over a new courtyard through a three-story glass wall. Roof lines morph from traditional to contemporary, and an elliptical auditorium provides sculptural contrast to the linear, U-shaped building". [2]

Construction is slated to begin in late 2005, with the building ready for use by 2008. [3]