Construction Begins on University of Findlay Business School

FINDLAY, Ohio — The new Center for Student Life and College of Business at the University of Findlay will marry academic space with recreational space in an effort to engage students on both an educational and personal level.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new $23 million building was held on March 31 near the construction site, marking the beginning of the 17-month construction project. Columbus, Ohio-based M+A Architects is serving as the architect on the project.

The 78,500-square-foot building will feature classrooms, lecture halls and flex spaces in addition to two creative learning centers, an investment trading room and a Big Ideas incubator lab — all designed to inspire collaborative learning. The College of Business dean’s suite and all related faculty and staff offices will be on the same floor, according to the M+A Architects website.

In addition to the College of Business spaces, a two-story central gathering space will be included. Here, students will be able to dine, study, meet and even relax between classes. The building will also offer a bookstore, campus communications center, student development suite and the Center of Civic Engagement. Because of the new building’s location in the heart of campus, its interactive gathering spaces and green space outside will serve as a social space for other academic programs as well as provide a venue for campus and community arts and entertainment.

Earlier this year, Shiv Gupta, a retired University of Findlay economics and marketing professor, made a major donation toward construction of the new facility. As such, a space in the building will be named the Shiv K. and Elizabeth Gupta Grand Auditorium in honor of Gupta and his late wife.

Construction on the project is scheduled for completion in time for the 2017-2018 school year.