Business school kicks off capital campaign

On March 1, the Graduate School of Business launched a $175-million, five-year capital campaign. At a black-tie celebration held at Ida Noyes Hall, Dean Robert S. Hamada outlined the needs behind the campaign: increased research funding and endowed professorships, interdisciplinary research, scholarships and student programs, and a new GSB complex that will bring the school's classrooms, faculty offices, research space, and support services under one roof for the first time.

"This venture is integral to the plans of the entire institution," Hamada told guests, "and it will succeed because we have the unreserved commitment of our leadership."

The campaign is being led by University trustees Dennis J. Keller, MBA'68, and Andrew M. Alper, AB'80, MBA'81, who announced that over $80 million has already been raised. Keller--the chair and chief executive officer of DeVRY Inc. and cofounder of Keller Graduate School of Management--has pledged $25 million to the campaign. Alper, chief operating officer of the investment-banking division of Goldman, Sachs & Co., and his wife, Sharon Sadow Alper, AB'80, JD'84, will give $5 million.

Three more leadership gifts were also announced at the celebration: Robert Rothman, MBA'77, chair and chief executive officer of Black Diamond Capital Corporation in Tampa, Florida, announced a major gift of $12 million. James M. Kilts, MBA'74, president and chief executive officer of Nabisco, is giving $2 million in conjunction with Nabisco to endow the Kilts Center for Marketing, while Jerry W. Levin, MBA'68, chief executive officer of Sunbeam Corporation, plans to endow a professorship.

Architect Rafael Viñoly was on hand to show his preliminary design for the new GSB complex. Rafael Viñoly Architects PC, which has offices in New York, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires, beat five other firms in a competition to select an architect for a building whose site offers a special challenge. The southeast corner of 58th Street and Woodlawn Avenue--Woodward Court's current location--calls for a building that can hold its own while also complementing two landmark structures, Robie House and Rockefeller Chapel.

"In addition to creating high-quality designs, Rafael Viñoly is well known for using an interactive design process, openly sharing information and responsibility, and building consensus," Hamada said. "He also is known for his responsiveness to the surrounding environment while refusing to imitate a particular architectural style."

A committee of GSB faculty, staff, students, and alumni boards; University trustees and officers; and non-GSB faculty selected Viñoly. Born in Uruguay, Viñoly was educated at the University of Buenos Aires and settled in New York City in 1979. Among his notable works are Boston's Convention and Exhibition Center, the Philadelphia Regional Performing Arts Center, and Princeton University Stadium. In 1989, his design was selected from 395 submissions for the Tokyo International Forum, an exhibition hall and conference center. The four-year, $1.5- billion project opened in January 1997 to critical acclaim.

Planned for completion in 2003, the four-story GSB complex will replace the school's existing four buildings on the main quads and include classrooms; study space; student activity areas; and faculty, recruiting, and administrative offices. Incorporating cutting-edge technological advancements, the structure will include a glass atrium with a winter garden and an exterior courtyard. The downtown Gleacher Center will continue to house part-time M.B.A. classes and other programs.--K.S.