Construction of a new wing for Van Munching Hall was completed last month in response to the need for more classrooms, university administrators said.
The new section took 14 months to build, said Christine Stewart, assistant dean for administration at the business school, which shares the hall with the School of Public Policy. On the outside, the new wing is a seamless addition to the rest of the building, with a boxy structure and a facade of alternating brick and concrete layers. Referred to as the “North Wing,” it is 38,440 square feet and has four floors, Stewart said.
The new wing includes classrooms, conference rooms, executive meeting areas and offices. Although it is open to the public, it will not be used until next spring because some components such as walls, blinds and podium hookups are being checked to make sure they are in working condition, Stewart said.
“We are very excited to have the Van Munching Hall North Wing completed,” Stewart wrote in an e-mail. “The goal was to add space to the building without making it look like an addition: similar elevation on the exterior, interior finishes, classroom technology, etc. Our physical facilities add to our attraction of top faculty and students.”
The new wing will consolidate the business Ph.D. program’s offices, bringing them all to the same floor, whereas they were previously scattered due to a lack of space, Stewart said in an interview.
Limited space also caused many undergraduates to take business classes outside of Van Munching Hall when they should have been inside, Stewart said, adding that she hopes the new wing will bring all students back into the building.
The new wing will use the latest technology in lighting control, energy management and audio/visual systems, said Carlo Colella, director of the Department of Architecture, Engineering and Construction, which managed the project.
Students who take classes in Van Munching said they are optimistic about the new wing.
“I think hopefully it will allow more classes to be offered at this school,” said sophomore letters and sciences major Laurence Jackson.
“I think it will be beneficial to class size and having more space for classes,” said junior marketing major Caroline Nichols.
Although construction of the new wing started in August 2006, the planning actually began a year earlier, Colella said. The wing had a price tag of around $21 million that included design, construction and furniture. The project was paid for by state, university and private funding, Colella said.
Construction went smoothly because the weather cooperated last winter, which allowed for fast underground drilling, Stewart said.
Building the new wing in such a limited space was difficult, Colella said, adding that working next to classrooms was tough because crews had to keep down the noise, dust and vibrations.
Stewart said the area surrounding Van Munching is still being landscaped, a project that should be completed by April 2008. Granite walls and stairs have been added in the north plaza, and heated coils have been installed to reduce ice during the winter. Granite pillars have been added to the southwest area, where a clock tower will also be built. The landscape will include various plants as well, Stewart said.
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