Kenan Flagship School of Business held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday to announce the construction of the $150 million Steven D. Bell Hall.
The North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $75 million for the project, but requested another $75 million in private funding for the Kenan-Flagler expansion. One third of this is nominally donated.
Another $25 million was given by Jackie and Steven Bell, UNC alumni and chairman of Bell Partners, an apartment investment and management company in Greensboro, NC.
“Few people in life have the opportunity to influence thousands of young people,” said Steven Bell. “I am honored and humbled to be able to help double the size of the undergraduate business school.”
Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said at the ceremony that with the expansion of the business school, he hopes to educate and train more students and leaders in the future. He pointed out that the new space will strengthen the culture of cooperation and help build the community.
“The new state of the art building, Steven D. Bell Hall, will enhance our critical mission and impact here in the Carolinas,” Guskiewicz said. “Kenan-Flagler is poised to meet the challenging needs of business education in an ever-evolving world and better educate the next generation in a modern institution.”
Guskiewicz introduced the keynote speaker, Jamie Dimon – CEO of JPMorgan Chase. Dimon discusses his career path, the benefits of working physically, racial equality and leadership tips.
“(Leadership) is a responsibility, and you take it seriously,” Dimon said. “You owe it to your family, your friends, your country, your communities.”
Later in the ceremony, Steven Bell said that the new hall will have an impact not only on the UNC community, but also on the state. About 70 percent of business school graduates return to North Carolina within 10 years, he said.
“These young entrepreneurs will make North Carolina a stronger and more productive place for all of us,” he said.
UNC senior and business administration major Sally Parkhurst said she thinks the new building will open doors for future leaders and provide opportunities for those who might not normally be able to participate in an undergraduate business program.
Parkhurst especially thinks the expansion will help with gaps in classrooms.
“I think there’s a space issue, not just with class enrollment, but with current class size. I think my undergraduate class is 350 people, and the applicant pool is over 1,000,” Parkhurst said. I think it gives us more of an opportunity to do it.”
Ultimately, the hopes are that this project will allow the business school to eventually double the size of its undergraduate business program, attract more students, enhance learning and address space constraints.
David Bolick, chairman of the board of trustees, said the university’s founding will always encourage future endeavors such as the construction of the new business school.
Kenan-Flagler hopes to make environmental changes, such as creating outdoor green spaces, using the natural environment to reduce energy use, and achieving LED platinum sustainability standards.
“We can’t stop innovating, we can’t stop building, and we can’t stop accelerating for all great universities,” Bolick said.
@jesswalk
university@dailytarheel.com
Sign up for our email newsletter to get the day’s news and headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
