Story by Matt Koesters

Photos by Joseph Fuqua II and Andrew Higley/UC Creative Services

March 1, 2018

The future home of the Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati is one step closer to completion.

The UC community kicked off the month of March by celebrating the end of the first phase of the new, $120 million structure’s construction with a Final Beam Celebration. University leaders, faculty, staff, alumni, students and guests gathered to sign the beam and watch as a crane lifted it into position.

“The final beam ceremony represents a major milestone for our college as we collaboratively build the future of business education here in Cincinnati,” said Lindner Dean David Szymanski. “The Lindner College of Business community is working diligently to ensure that this building serves as a tremendous catalyst for our College’s continued ascension to preeminence. This ceremony is an opportunity to express our gratitude and honor the many supporters of the College who have done so much to make this building a reality, and to recognize the significant achievements of all the workers, the construction managers and design team to date.”

Set to open in fall 2019, the four-story, 225,000-square-foot facility will feature an expansive floor plan with more than 240 faculty office spaces, a 150-seat, two-story lecture hall, a 250-seat auditorium, research labs, exam and tutoring areas, numerous huddle and breakout rooms, plenty of open workspaces and two spacious courtyards. With the college’s enrollment approaching 5,000 students, the new building comes at the right time; the college’s current home, Lindner Hall, was built in 1986 to accommodate about 1,800 students.

“This impressive new facility will allow us to deliver our academic curriculum in the active ways today’s students learn,” said Eileen Strempel, senior vice provost for academic affairs. “It will help us develop future leaders in a high-paced, constantly evolving and collaborative world, and provide an extraordinary new home for one of the top business schools in the country.”

The construction of the new building was made possible through the generosity of donors, including a record-breaking $11 million donation from the Lindner Family and American Financial Group Inc.

“The extraordinary new home for the Lindner College of Business is a tangible result of the philanthropy of the Lindner family, American Financial Group and all our donors and advocates,” said Peter E. Landgren, president of the UC Foundation. “While words cannot fully convey our gratitude, we want them to know that their generosity, and their belief that their investment in this new facility will have a lasting impact on the college, UC, Cincinnati and beyond.”

Construction of the new building remains on schedule and on budget. The next phase of construction will include the installation of the building’s exterior wall system and roofing. The building is expected to be completed in May of 2019, and the college will relocate from Lindner Hall during the summer. Students will first take classes in the building Fall Semester of 2019.