Summer 2006: Early August 2006 brought construction
crews back to Smith as work began on Van
Munching Hall's North Wing, a $21 million
addition of approximately 38,000 square
feet to the Smith School’s home. An official
groundbreaking ceremony will be held this
fall and completion is slated for November
2007.
“The Smith School already
boasts one of the most technologically advanced
facilities directed at management education
in the world,” said Howard Frank, dean of
the Smith School. “We will set the bar a
notch higher with newly designed classrooms,
research space, conference and student resource
areas – all of which will be equipped with
next-generation technology infrastructure.”
The North Wing will include an office
and classroom addition in the north end
of Van Munching Hall and will also feature
an entrance plaza and attractive green space.
The addition will increase the Smith School’s
space to approximately 238,000 square feet.
In 1992 Leo Van Munching, Jr. '50, a
Smith school alumnus and president of the
company holding the exclusive franchise
to import and distribute Heineken and Amstel
Light beer, donated $5 million toward the
construction Van Munching Hall. The move
from Tydings Hall to the state-of-the-art
Van Munching Hall took place in 1993. In
1999, Van Munching donated $6 million in
additional funding to help finance the expansion
and renovation of the building. The $38-million
South Wing expansion of Van Munching Hall
opened for classes in fall 2002. The building
boasts a next-generation technology infrastructure
including complete wireless network coverage,
four student computer labs, and five netcentric
teaching and research labs.
The $21-million North Wing will be financed
with a combination of state and private
funds. The building is specially designed
to meet the requirements of Smith’s undergraduate
and graduate programs, delivering the academic,
professional, and social experiences necessary
to help prepare students to lead 21st century
organizations.
Project completion date is Fall 2007,
for occupancy Spring 2008.
