Jon Bateman
Comm-320
13 February 2009
Povich

The Kogod School of Business officially opened the doors of its expansion building the first day of spring classes on January 12th, 2009.

Plans to grow had been in the works since 2006. Construction crews started pulling down the existing structure and ground on the new building broke in the spring of 2007.

Expansion efforts are part a way to alleviate the strains on the growing student population as well as to open a career center in Kogod independent of AU’s career center.

“The building was built to give additional classroom space to Kogod because we didn’t have enough to really meet the demands of the student population,” said Sarah Mykson, Alumni and Donor Relations Coordinator. “Also a goal was to increase the space of the career center. Kogod this semester moved the undergraduate career services into our own Kogod offices as opposed to working with the full AU career center.”

Seven new classrooms as well a career services center and breakout rooms for students were added to Kogod. “There are five new classrooms on the terrace level in the expansion and then two tiered classes on the second floor,” said Rene Kauder, the Administrative Services Manager of Kogod. “So that allows almost all of the Kogod classes that take place to happen here in the building.”

Cutting edge technology is incorporated into the building and classroom experience to enhance student learning. The new Financial Services Lab simulates a real trading floor giving students firsthand experience of the speed at which business is conducted.

“There is State of the art technology being integrated throughout the classrooms,” said Kauder. “The tiered classes 233 and 234 have quite a bit of technology woven into them.”

Expansion was the initiative of Dean Richard Durand and was completely funded by contributions of private donors. “It’s a project of the dean working closely with my boss, the Director of Development to kind of do the fundraising,” said Mykson. “The extension was totally funded by private donations. No budget from the school. It’s the only building on campus like that.”

Kogod plans to give back to its generous benefactors with plaques and dedication of classrooms. “We’re putting up plaque signage for all the donors who have made a donation and named a room, named a bench, some of the entrances,” said Mykson.