Robins School of Business Building
Site: On the north side of campus, on Gateway Road near the north entrance to campus
Construction began: October 15, 1960
Completed: November 4, 1961
Architect: Carneal & Johnston
Size: 48,000 square feet
Renovations: 1982, 1998
At his death in 1952, L. U. Noland a prominent Virginia businessman left a bequest of $250,000 to the University for the construction a business school building. This gift provided seed money with the remainder of the funds needed to complete the project being raised over the next several years.
The building is of red brick trimmed with limestone and continues the Cram tradition. The new business school building was much needed and long anticipated. Classes had been held for years in the “temporary” V-12 Barracks Building. In an October 14, 1960 article the Collegian reports that the building will cost $600,000. The construction contract was awarded to Conquest, Moncure and Dunn.
The building included a large auditorium or assembly room, classrooms, faculty offices, dean’s office, placement office, student lounge, faculty lounge, and an air conditioned conference and lecture room with audio visual facilities. Dean Robbins envisioned the facilities being used by area businessmen and a summertime executive development program.
On September 5, 1979, at the opening convocation of the university’s sesquicentennial observance it was announced that the Business School had been named in honor of E. Claiborne Robins. This was done to honor “a patron of the University of Richmond whose dedication and commitment has been surpassed by no one in the history of higher education,” according to President Heilman. Robins was a 1931 graduate of the University and chairman of the board of A. H. Robins, a pharmaceutical manufacturing firm.
In 1984, a $3 million, 15,000 square foot addition was completed. It included 13 faculty offices, four classrooms, a new dean’s suite, a student computer room, an audiovisual area, and new carpet , paint and furniture for the entire building. The old dean’s suite was converted to a faculty lounge. The new space was dedicated on Saturday, October 27, 1984, during Homecoming Weekend.
In 1998-99 another renovation project was undertaken. Members of the planning committee visited 12 of the nation’s top business schools to view their facilities. This project did not involve expansion of the building. The auditorium was converted to classroom space, the atrium extended, and a new entrance was added. Technology in the building was upgraded and a computer lab was equipped. All classrooms were furnished with a multi-media instructor’s station. Two classrooms were provided with video conferencing capability. Eight classrooms were completed for fall 1998, with the remainder of the renovations being completed in spring 1999. Most faculty were moved to temporary offices in Sarah Brunet during the construction.
Sources:
UR website
Alley, Reuben E. History of the University of Richmond, 1830-1971
Collegian 1960-61, 1984, 1998-99