Bob and Laura Reynolds be a part of (from left) Milan Puskar Dean Josh Hall and West Virginia College President Gordon Gee in slicing a ribbon to open up Reynolds Corridor, the new property of the John Chambers University of Small business and Economics, Aug. 26, 2022.
(WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)
Reynolds Hall, the futuristic 186,000-square-foot sophisticated set to remodel understanding and investigate in larger ed, is officially open for organization.
The new property of the West Virginia University John Chambers Higher education of Business and Economics, Reynolds Corridor held its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Friday (Aug. 26) with its namesakes, Bob and Laura Reynolds, on hand.
The making began as the vision of Bob Reynolds, president and CEO of Putnam Investments, Clarksburg native and 1974 finance graduate of WVU.
Even though that eyesight has come to fruition extra than five decades soon after the Reynolds’ $10 million reward to kickstart design, the opening of the intricate does not signify an finish. It’s a commencing for propelling educational components of business enterprise schooling at WVU – and for uniting the University in an open, ground breaking surroundings that has transformed the landscape of the Monongahela River waterfront and functions experiential-studying lecture rooms, a serious-time inventory ticker, laptop or computer labs, a 300-seat auditorium, an inviting atrium and a social stairwell modeled just after just one at Google headquarters, 50 analyze rooms, a café and eating area, eco-friendly place and a health middle.
“We observed that West Virginia was at the threshold of reinventing by itself, and we believed that the very best way to do that was from the inside of,” Bob Reynolds stated, on what influenced them to give. “This is a making that will renovate entrepreneurship in the condition by schooling the subsequent generation to feel differently about business enterprise from working day a person.”
Reynolds Hall claims to be more than just a new composition on campus. Higher-tech, hands-on discovering areas incorporate the Wehrle World wide Offer Chain Lab, Roll Money Markets Lab and labs devoted to social media and advertising, info analytics and cybersecurity. Within all those labs, school will operate immediately with learners in using cutting-edge technologies for jobs and exploration.
“Generations of Mountaineers will stroll by this setting up and see small business taking place all all over them,” Reynolds additional. “They’ll master to build, make a slip-up or two and develop into improved for it.”
President Gordon Gee had the honor of saying the first gift from the Boston few five several years back. Gee on Friday touted the prospective brewing from in just the building’s partitions.
“Its labs and understanding equipment will also forge new synergies concerning sector and academia, building engagement alternatives for our learners that guide to internships and task placement,” Gee stated.
“Bob Reynolds has generally been a driving drive for innovation in the mutual fund industry, and it is fitting that he and his wife Laura have brought these a catalyst for innovation to existence on our campus.”
Gee acknowledged other enterprise leaders and friends of WVU who designed presents of $1 million or much more to make Reynolds Hall possible:
• Marty and Katherine Becker
• The Encova Foundation
• Hap Esbenshade
• The Hayhurst family
• The family of the late Don and Marcella Hoylman
• Penni and Rob Roll
• Bill and Patricia Sheedy
• The Wehrle family members
Cindi Roth, president and CEO of the WVU Basis, explained Reynolds’ vision predates the present from 2017. Reynolds started out conversing with management at the Higher education and WVU Basis more than 10 several years in the past.
“Bob’s mind-boggling positivity and his means to seize chance has served him very well as a pioneer in the economic companies field, and he used all those similar abilities to build momentum for this extraordinary testament to the electric power of philanthropy,” Roth reported.
In addition to a ribbon slicing, Reynolds Hall hosted an open up house and tour of the mastering labs and college student resource areas, which observed faculty, staff members and pupils sharing their vision of the new setting up and its influence.
“Today signifies the begin of a new story for West Virginia University’s business enterprise college,” explained Milan Puskar Dean Josh Hall. “Reynolds Hall is far more than bricks and mortar: it is a shining beacon of hope for our School, our campus, and the point out of West Virginia. It will pave the way for our college students to make their marks on the environment in approaches that only Mountaineers can.”
The College also acknowledged partners that helped condition and provide the project on time: Strada, Gensler, PJ Dick and WVU Facilities and Companies.
For Reynolds, who grew up 40 minutes away from the Morgantown campus, the ceremony served as a whole-circle second. Even though the ceremony centered all over him and his contributions, he acknowledged that Reynolds Hall would not have happened with no guidance from his fellow Mountaineers.
“Thank you to anyone in this room, from the task groups who worked tirelessly from the initially beam to the past brick, the fellow B&E donors and pals of the Faculty who funded spaces where pupils will understand by carrying out, to the school and staff members who alter life every day by your devotion to, and compassion for, WVU pupils,” Reynolds explained.
“And a exclusive thank you to my loved ones, and particularly my mom, Juanita, who is right here today and can attest first-hand to how a West Virginia boy can be transformed by the power of company instruction and a like for Mountaineer sports.”
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MEDIA Speak to: Heather Richardson
Assistant Dean of Communications, Engagement & Effects
John Chambers College of Company and Economics
304-293-9625 [email protected]
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