On April 9, 2008, faculty, alumni, students, trustees, supporters and government officials gathered in a tent on the Cary Street lawn for the official dedication of Snead Hall, the new home of the School of Business, and East Hall, phase II of the School of Engineering. Snead Hall and East Hall together form a 240,000-square-foot, $84.3 million complex.

 

Participants in the ceremony included VCU President Eugene P. Trani, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, as well as other government and university officials.  

 

Speakers remarked on the academic vitality and economic promise that the co-location of the two schools represents.  “Look around you,” said Steve Markel, chair of the School of Business Foundation. “Our School of Business is surrounded by business. What better place to study it!”

 

Michael Sesnowitz, Dean of the School of Business, remarked on the exciting collaboration between business and engineering, as represented by the da Vinci Center for Innovation in Product Design and Development, which brings together teams of business, engineering and design students to work on projects for major corporations and government organizations.

 

Tom Snead, ’76, spoke on behalf of the Snead family, expressing gratitude at having the business building named in their honor. Tom and his wife Vickie,’76, met at VCU. They have enjoyed thirty-two wonderful years of being alumni, and anticipate that “this is just the beginning” of a very exciting future for VCU. 

 

Following the ceremony, guests took tours of the building, ate cake, and even confirmed that the fire alarm worked. Everyone had to leave the building when the alarm went off, but when we were let back in a few minutes later, the festivities continued.

 

All in all, it was a hallmark day for the School of Business. Although classes have been held in the Snead Hall since the start of the semester in January, the dedication ceremony made it clear that this is “just the beginning” for Snead Hall, and for the generations of business students who will benefit from walking through its doors.