University fund-raisers have secured 90 percent of the money needed to build the Lillis Business Complex and are holding a groundbreaking ceremony with University President Dave Frohnmayer at 10:30 a.m. today.
The complex, a four-story addition to the business school that will replace the Commonwealth Bridge, is scheduled to be finished for the 2003-04 school year. Its 145,000 square feet of added classroom space, conference rooms and wiring for information technology will better connect students to faculty and to each other, business school Associate Dean for External Relations Christopher Murray said. The renovation will also add 600 classroom seats.
Murray said the campaign to raise funds for the project is the largest in the University’s history. Private donors have given $37 million so far. Former University student Chuck Lillis, past chairman of the multibillion dollar cable company MediaOne, gave $14 million. He is attending the ceremony with his wife, Gwen.
The ceremony and a subsequent 11 a.m. reception will be held in the Gilbert Hall courtyard.