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New business school leads with sustainable features

Building ‘e-constructed’ using only recycled materials

Photos: Farmer School of Business

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By Elizabeth Hagedorn Contributing Writer Updated 4:10 PM Thursday, November 5, 2009

On the outside, the new Richard T. Farmer School of Business looks like any other three-story, red brick building on Miami University’s campus. But this 218,000-square-foot masterpiece is unlike any other Miami students and faculties have ever experienced.

The new building is an environmentally sustainable facility that promotes educational experiences and increased collaboration between students, faculty and technology.

The building will be dedicated with a ceremony recognizing major donors, whose combined $50 million in gifts funded nearly 80 percent of the project, at 2 p.m. Nov. 7.

Their investments helped to create a school that is LEED certified, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, according to Alan Oak, assistant dean for external relations.

The dorm that previously stood where the Farmer School of Business is today was “e-constructed,” which means that all of the materials such as the bricks were recycled to be used in the new building, Oak said. The new materials for the business school were purchased from 500 miles or closer in order to cut down on gas emissions.

The outer building isn’t the only part that is environmentally conscious, Oak said. Skylights in the foyer and large windows throughout the building allow for natural lighting. All of the other lights are motion-sensored, and only turn on when the room is in use.

In order to encourage faculty and students to walk or ride bikes to the school, there are two individual restrooms that have showers, Oak said.

Other features include 15 to 20 flat screens throughout the building that replace posters and bulletin boards in order to eliminate unnecessary paper usage, toilets that use less water for liquids and more water for solid waste, and the paint and carpeting that have low volatile organic compounds.

“We are very proud of these features. It says to our students that this is a very important part of business,” Oak said.

Previously split between two academic buildings, the new business school brings the entire faculty under one roof in 154 faculty offices, making it easier for students to reach their teachers and for faculty to work together. With only one faculty lounge, professors and administrators are able to interact on a daily basis.

“It breaks down silos and increases communication,” said Jenny Callison, the director of communications at the Farmer School of Business.

The students also are being encouraged to work together. There are numerous common areas, where students can meet with fellow students, do homework or relax in between classes, Callison said.

There is a dining hall within the building that has a salad bar, sandwiches and a coffee stand. The building is equipped with Wi-Fi to support more than 3,000 simultaneous users, according to Callison.

“This is a student-orientated building. The major services are here to serve and support students,” Oak said. “This building provides a nurturing and positive environment for students.”

The Student Services Suite on the first floor is home to advising, international studies, career services, student organizations, and the Buck Rogers Business Leadership Program. Callison said students appreciate being able to access all of these services in one location.

Mark Robinson, who graduated from Miami in May with a degree in organizational communications, is now in the MBA program at Miami. Because he also works as a Modified Graduate Assistant at the Farmer School of Business, he spends most of his days in the new building.

“This building is all encompassing. I can come in the morning and don’t ever have to leave,” Robinson said. “We’re being spoiled. I haven’t been in another academic building all semester.”

Roger L. Jenkins, the dean of the Farmer School of Business, said one of the most inspiring aspects of the building is seeing a sense of community develop among the students and faculty. Jenkins also said the building is important to the new era of business education.

“I cannot overstate the importance of the new Farmer School of Business building to the school’s mission and goal, which is to move 'from good to great,’ ” Jenkins said. “This journey is a continuous process, because what is 'great’ today is merely 'good’ tomorrow. This building is an essential resource in our quest to provide a substantive, broad, and relevant educational experience that will prepare our students for leadership in a global marketplace.”

Building dedication

The Richard T. Farmer School of Business will be formally dedicated at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in the building’s David R. Taylor Auditorium. The public is invited to attend.

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