Quinnipiac University leaders say they want their business school building to feature plenty of space and the latest technology.Their hope? Quinnipiac will be the first choice for students who want to be the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.In early February, the Hamden-based university announced its plans for a $244 million construction project to […]
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Quinnipiac University leaders say they want their business school building to feature plenty of space and the latest technology.
Their hope? Quinnipiac will be the first choice for students who want to be the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.
In early February, the Hamden-based university announced its plans for a $244 million construction project to include three new buildings at its Mount Carmel Campus.
One of those new facilities will house Quinnipiac’s School of Business, which is currently on the campus’ north side.
Holly Raider, dean of the School of Business, said the current space has served it well, but it now needs more room.
“It is a space we long ago outgrew,” Raider said. “Part of the opportunity of a new building is to have a space where we can fit all of our faculty and our programming.”
Quinnipiac President Judy D. Olian said the space constraints have meant the university has had to schedule classes into the evenings to accommodate everyone.
The university’s Board of Trustees recently approved the new buildings for what will be its “South Quad,” at the southern end of the campus.
The new 79,000-square-foot School of Business building will feature a “Business Innovation Hub” as an incubator for students to explore and test new ideas.
Plans are for it to feature a financial technology center, where students can use trading platforms, investment tools and data systems. It will also have offices for faculty and flexible lecture and event space that can seat up to 150 people for large and small gatherings.
“We don’t have advanced learning spaces that really represent the future,” Olian said. “That is what we are building into this new facility.”
According to Olian, business students represent a significant portion of Quinnipiac’s student body, and they need the space for learning everything from data analytics and finance to accounting and team management.
“We design buildings as enablers of learning for careers of the future,” Olian said.
In-demand programs
Quinnipiac enrolls about 9,715 students who have a variety of majors, ranging from business to communications, education, computing, law, medicine and nursing. University leaders have said they plan to keep enrollment levels stable, between 9,000 and 10,000.
The School of Business has approximately 1,500 undergraduate and 600 graduate students, according to the university’s website. The new business school building will feature specially-designed spaces like a “digital sandbox,” for data analytics courses.
“That’s where the workplace for the students will have multiple monitors and a way to spread out so they can have the data and coding and all of the information organized in a way that facilitates learning,” Raider said. “You can in real time have the educator displaying things around the room, but also on their local workstations.”
The space will also be helpful for learning about financial asset management, Raider said. The university hosts the largest student-run financial conference in the world, Quinnipiac’s Global Asset Management Education Forum.
“It is important to us that we have a financial technology center where our students can learn and be in a space much like they would in a real workplace, a space where they could be trading assets, which features Bloomberg terminals and tickers,” Raider said.
A key component of the new School of Business building will be hosting events, including large conferences and meeting space for student groups.
University officials also foresee continued expansion of business-related coursework.
Quinnipiac just recently announced its plans to introduce a new bachelor’s degree program in talent management that will teach students about the business aspects of sports, esports or entertainment.
The university is also developing a fintech major and certificate in entrepreneurship.
“We are not standing still,” Raider said. “... Those are areas that are super hot from a career standpoint.”
Other in-demand business fields include accounting, business analytics, human resources, talent management supply chain, marketing and finance, she said.
New academic, dorm space
As part of the overall $244 million construction investment, Quinnipiac also plans to build a new 137,000-square-foot general academic building, with space for classrooms, labs, a greenhouse and animal habitat. The building will also feature space to expand the university’s computing programs, collaborative spaces for breakout and group study, and offices for deans and faculty.
Plans are for the building to feature an auditorium for up to 800 people to host university and community events.
The South Quad project also includes a new 417-bed residence hall, which would allow the school to offer more single- and double-occupancy rooms. It would enable more students to live on campus and feature gathering spaces, lounges and an outdoor courtyard.
Olian said more living space is needed, as the university aims to provide a “comprehensive living and learning experience.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Quinnipiac got rid of quad and triple rooms, so it needs more rooms and beds. The community also asked the university to host more students on campus.
University officials have said there have been past complaints about students living in off-campus housing coming home late or being too noisy.
Quinnipiac’s leaders have instituted a mandatory residential experience for new students, requiring non-commuters to live on campus for three years.
The $244 million total price tag will be funded through the university’s endowment, philanthropic efforts and debt financing. The goal, pending town approvals, is to have shovels in the ground this summer, with all three new buildings finished and ready to open in 2024, Olian said.
Arthur H. Rice, chairman of Quinnipiac’s Board of Trustees, said the new buildings will support “advanced faculty research and immersive teaching approaches.”
Design of the future
The new construction is just the latest part of Quinnipiac’s facilities growth plan.
In 2021, the school unveiled a 10-year master facilities plan, “Designing Our Future,” which covers all of its three locations, including the Mount Carmel, York Hill and North Haven campuses.
The university opted to first pursue a project the entire Quinnipiac community could benefit from, a new $45 million, 60,000-square-foot Recreation & Wellness Center on the Mount Carmel campus.
Construction for that new center is already underway, and it will feature space and programming aimed at recreation and improving health, physical fitness and wellness. There will be a rock climbing wall, space for yoga and meditation, a weight room and exercise space.
The project has experienced some delays due to supply chain challenges, Olian said.
“We are excited,” Olian said. “It won’t be just about physical fitness, but the well-being of faculty, staff and students.”
Olian said she anticipates portions of the recreation and wellness center will be ready to open in August, with it fully open by October.
