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Bob and Laura Reynolds (left) join Milan Puskar Dean Josh Hall and West Virginia University President Gordon Gee in cutting the ribbon to open Reynolds Hall, the new home of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics, on August 26, 2022.
(WVU Photo/Brian Persinger)
Reynolds Hall, a futuristic 186,000-square-foot complex designed to transform teaching and research in higher education, is officially open for business.
The new home of West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and EconomicsReynolds Hall held its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday (Aug. 26). Bob and Laura ReynoldsOn hand.
The building was the vision of Bob Reynolds, president and CEO of Putnam Investments, a Clarksburg native and 1974 WVU finance graduate.
This vision came to fruition after five years Reynolds gift of 10 million dollars To begin construction, the opening of the complex does not mean the end. Business education at WVU is a start to advance academics—and transform the university’s landscape on the banks of the Monongahela River to unify it in an open, creative environment that features experiential-learning classrooms, real-time stock signage, computer labs, a 300-seat auditorium, an inviting The atrium and Google headquarters will feature social levels designed in one model, 50 study rooms, a café and dining area, a green space and Fitness center.
“We see that West Virginia is on the cusp of reinventing itself, and we believe the best way to do that is from within,” said Bob Reynolds of his inspiration for the donation.
Reynolds Hall promises to be more than just a new structure on campus. They include high-tech, hands-on learning spaces Wehrle Global Supply Chain Lab, Roll Capital Markets Lab And Labs dedicated to social media and marketing, data analytics and cyber security. In those labs, faculty work directly with students using state-of-the-art technology for projects and research.
“Generations of climbers will walk through this building and see the businesses around them,” Reynolds added. “You learn to build, make a mistake or two and become better for it.”
President Gordon G Five years ago, he had the honor of announcing the first gift from a Boston couple. On Friday, Gee spoke about the potential brewing within the building’s walls.
“The laboratories and learning equipment will also create new synergies between industry and academia, creating engagement opportunities for our students that lead to internships and work placements,” he said.
“Bob Reynolds has always been a driving force for innovation in the mutual fund industry, and it’s only fitting that he and his wife, Laura, bring innovation to life on our campus.”
GThey recognized other business leaders and friends of WVU who made gifts of $1 million or more to make Reynolds Hall possible:
• Marty and Catherine Baker
• Inkova Foundation
• Hap Esbenshade
• The Hayhurst family
• Family of the late Don and Marcella Holman
• Penny and Rob Roll
• Bill and Patricia Sheedy
• THe is a Werle family
WVU Foundation President and CEO Cindy Roth said Reynolds’ vision precedes his 2017 gift. Reynolds began speaking with leadership at the college and the WVU Foundation about 10 years ago.
“Bob’s remarkable positivity and ability to seize opportunity served as a pioneer in the financial services industry, and he has used those same skills to inspire this remarkable testament to the power of philanthropy,” Roth said.
In addition to the ribbon cutting, Reynolds Hall hosted an open house and tours of the learning labs and student facilities, which saw faculty, staff and students share their vision of the new building and its impact.
“Today marks the beginning of a new story for the West Virginia University School of Business,” he said. Milan Puskar Dean Josh Hall. “Reynolds Hall is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a beacon of hope for our college, our campus and the state of West Virginia. It paves the way for our students to make their mark on the world in ways that only Mounties can.”
The university also acknowledges partners who helped design and deliver the project on time: Strada, Gensler, PJ Dick and WVU facilities and services.
For Reynolds, who lives 40 minutes away from the Morgantown campus, the celebration served as a full-circle moment. Although the ceremony is centered around him and his contributions, Reynolds Hall admits it would not have happened without the support of his fellow mountaineers.
“Thank you to the project teams who worked tirelessly from the first pillar to the last brick, our fellow B&E donors and the friends of the college who funded the student learning space, faculty, staff and everyone in this department. Your dedication and compassion for WVU students changes lives every day,” said Reynolds. .
“And a special thank you to my family, and especially my mother, Juanita, who is here today to witness firsthand how a West Virginia boy can be transformed by the power of a business education and love of mountain sports.”
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Media Contact: Heather Richardson
Assistant Dean of Communications, Engagement and Impact
John Chambers College of Business and Economics
304-293-9625; hrichard@mail.wvu.edu
For the latest West Virginia University news and information from WVUToday, call 1-855-WVU-NEWS.
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.
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