HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall University has cut the ribbon on the new Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation
Dozens of Marshall University leaders, staff and students were on hand to celebrate the official dedication Wednesday afternoon.
“This is a milestone moment in a series of milestone moments that are happening on our campus, in our city, across the state and honestly in the Appalachian region,” President Brad Smith said. “It’s because it is our time. We are seeking this opportunity and we are leaning in. It is the power of we.”
The 78,000 square foot facility along 4th Avenue in Huntington is home to the Lewis College of Business and features some of the latest technology to help educate business students and serve the business community. It also includes a 360-seat auditorium, a finance lab with 12 Bloomberg terminals, a computer lab, and nine classrooms. The classroom are included with ThinkHub Education technology with instructor and student stations.
“The Brad D. Smith Center for Business and Innovation was necessary to overhaul Marshall’s business education, emphasizing teamwork, innovation and local economic integration,” said Marshall Provost Avinandan “Avi” Mukherjee, former dean of the Lewis College of Business. “This new facility serves as a nucleus for this transformation, providing Marshall students with cutting-edge resources, technology, and collaborative spaces vital for success in today’s business landscape.”
Students got their first taste of the new facility when it opened in January following two years of construction.
The project was funded with the generous help of several donors, including a $25 million donation from Marshall President Brad D. Smith, who’s an alum of Marshall’s College of Business, and his wife, Alys Smith.
A $1.8 million donation from Encova Insurance allowed for the auditorium to be included in the plans. Dutch Miller Auto Group donated $1 million for the facility’s forum, Service Wire Company pledged $1 million for the Transformative Sales and Excellence Center, and John Rahal contributed $1 million for the Rahal Center for Strategic Engagement.
“We talk often about the importance of a town and gown relationship between a university and its surrounding community. For 187 years, Huntington and Marshall University have taken that so much further,” Smith said.