Groundbreaking Held for New Student Center in UB School of Management

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the Alfiero Center, the new, three-story addition that will adjoin the Jacobs Management Center of the University at Buffalo School of Management on UB's North (Amherst) Campus.

The center will be named in honor of the chair and CEO of Protective Industries, Sal H. Alfiero, and his wife, Jeanne, who have made a $2 million gift to the school. The Alfiero Center will be the first largely private-donor-supported building on UB's campus, and one of few in the State University of New York system.

"I think that UB is a tremendous asset for our community and for the entire state, as reflected by the national prominence achieved by the School of Management and the university's other professional schools," Alfiero said at the ceremony. "I started my business in Western New York and this gift is simply my family's way of thanking the community for its years of support."

The 23,000-square-foot facility will serve as a student center and house academic and career-development offices that assist the nearly 3,000 students who enroll each year in the School of Management.

The center's stately convening area and three-story atrium will be named for J. Grant Hauber, retired Harold C. Brown executive, and his wife, Marcia, whose $500,000 gift led the campaign for the new structure.

"This building will stand as a beacon of opportunity," said Hauber. "All of the students, faculty and friends who walk the corridors of this new addition will have the feeling that this is their 'home' on campus."

John M. Thomas, dean of the School of Management, thanked the Alfieros, Haubers and other benefactors of the new center for their generosity, noting that because of their support, "our students, tomorrow's business leaders, will have the opportunity to develop their management skills in an environment consistent with the national reputation of our school."

UB President William R. Greiner described the groundbreaking as "a great tribute to the leadership of Sal and Jeanne Alfiero, whose vision has meant so much to our university community. The new Alfiero Center will be an invaluable resource not only for the university and our School of Management, but also for the larger Western New York business and educational communities we serve.

"The Alfiero Center's beautiful atrium, named for Grant and Marcia Hauber in honor of their outstanding support of UB and our School of Management, will serve as an impressive and functional space wherein our faculty, students, alumni, visitors and staff may convene." Greiner added.

"All in all, this world-class complex will be a wonderful reflection of the collaborative support that has made this multi-functional facility possible -- we are extremely grateful to the Alfieros, the Haubers, and each of the university alumni and friends who have helped to make the Alfiero Center a reality."

Greiner, Alfiero, Hauber and Thomas were joined in the groundbreaking by Jeanne Alfiero; Ronald Yoo, president of the Undergraduate Management Association; Julia Novelli, president of the Graduate Management Association; Edmond Gicewicz, M.D., a member of the UB Council, and John N. Walsh III, vice chair of the University at Buffalo Foundation.

The architect for the project is Foit-Albert Associates. Bids for construction of the addition are currently in the review and approval process. Construction will begin in May. The project is expected to take 18-24 months.

The facility also will feature an Internet café, three high-tech classrooms, an entrepreneurship suite and dedicated space for student clubs, meetings and group projects. The undergraduate mezzanine on the second floor of the new center, like an MBA mezzanine on the third floor, will overlook the building's multi-story atrium.

Wireless computer technologies will be integrated throughout the building, giving management students around-the-clock access to business research and market data.

Additional funding for the $7 million project is being provided by alumni and friends of the School of Management as a component of "The Campaign for UB: Generation to Generation," now in its final phase.

For information on how you can support the University at Buffalo, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/giving.

The UB School of Management is ranked as one of the best business schools in the country by The Wall Street Journal and Business Week magazine, and accredited by AACSB International -- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.