FAQs

Can you share more about the scope of this project? 

This project campaign is $15 million:

• $10 million for a new School of Business building, to be named the William E. & Ann L. Swan Business Center
• $4 million for faculty and program endowment
• $1 million for building endowment

It’s imperative that our School of Business, which accounts for 30% of our student population, keeps a competitive edge with programming, faculty and facility.

Why the need to launch another campaign? Wasn’t the 150th Anniversary Campaign a great success?
Yes, more than $95 million was raised during the 150th Anniversary Campaign, which included support for new buildings, program and faculty endowment, and operating monies.

Having achieved the goals and expended the funds of the Campaign, we have now entered into a new phase. The Business building is the next strategic initiative and a very important endeavor the University will undertake over the next decade.

Will the University be funding any portion of this building?
As a faith-based nonprofit organization, the University relies on external funding for many of our comprehensive strategies. The University’s financial support of this initiative comes through commitment to the operations of the building, feasibility studies, architectural fees, and long-range planning commitments.

When will groundbreaking take place?
The groundbreaking took place Friday, March 23, 2012, beginning at 12:30 p.m.  In the words of Ann Swan, it was a "Bona-tastic day!"

Will this new building impact student recruitment and retention?
National research shows that physical facilities related to an academic major influence a student’s choice of school. We have witnessed a major change in science enrollment following construction of The William F. Walsh Science Center.

Our competing schools are investing heavily in business schools — we do not want to fall behind. The new facility will be a wonderful retention tool and a professional building, which our Business students and alumni can proudly call their new home.

Can you share more about the location and the architects?
We are privileged to work with Cannon Design, an internationally ranked architectural, engineering and planning firm that has been honored with numerous distinctions for its work on our campus, including an AIA Buffalo/Western New York Chapter Honor award for the Sandra A. and Williams L. Richter Center; an American Society of Interior of Designers (ASID) New York Upstate/Canada East Chapter Best in Competition award and an AIA Buffalo/Western New York Chapter Honor award for the renovation of Hickey Dining Hall and construction of Café La Verna; a Business First of Buffalo Brick-by-Brick Award for the Best Education Project and an AIA Buffalo/WNY Chapter Honor Award for the Rare Books Wing of the Friedsam Memorial Library. While always being mindful in reinforcing the campus-architectural fabric with rich colors and textures found on the historic campus, Cannon Design gives thoughtful consideration to the new building’s placement, which will create a new academic quad while complementing the legacy and views of the Grotto and Merton’s Heart. 

For the latest photos and construction news, please visit: www.sbu.edu/construction.  

How can I help? *
First and foremost, you can make a gift to this campaign. Not all alumni, parents and friends may have the potential to make a major gift ($25,000 and over) but if this is your passion, please consider making a stretch gift above your annual fund gift.  You can also purchase a brick to be used in construction of the new School of Business Walkway.

Second, we need everyone to spread the word.  Friend us on Facebook! Pop over to Twitter and join in the conversation! We have great momentum, but we need the leverage of many. Please spread the good word to your colleagues, friends and family. Together we can build the future!

* Please feel free to call our University Advancement Office — one of our staff members would be more than happy to answer your questions and discuss the project in detail. The main number is (716) 375-2000, or call toll-free: (800) 664-1273.