TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Culverhouse College of Business at The University of Alabama today announced plans for the construction of a new building to be named Hewson Hall in recognition of a previous $15 million gift from alumni Marillyn and James Hewson.
The plans for Hewson Hall and a related campaign to raise a total of $30 million to match a commitment from the University were unveiled in a ceremony attended by the Hewson family, University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell, and members of the college’s faculty, staff and Board of Visitors. A campaign committee headed by Birmingham businessman C.T. Fitzpatrick will lead the effort to raise the additional $15 million needed in charitable contributions. The project is expected to cost $60 million.
“This university and this city were a launching pad for our careers – careers that have blessed us with the resources to reach out and to give back to others,” said Marillyn Hewson. “We wanted to find a way to ensure that the next generation is well-equipped and well-positioned with the skills to get good jobs, establish strong careers, and seize the exciting opportunities that life will offer.”
In his remarks, James Hewson said, “We want the impact of this gift to strengthen hope and opportunity during each student’s college experience – and over his or her lifetime.”
Hewson Hall, which will be constructed adjacent to Mary Hewell Alston Hall, will be centered around a three-story atrium — a light-filled, dynamic space designed to connect faculty, staff and students. Plans for the 108,000-square-foot building include 22 classrooms, 50 team rooms, a student success center, conference rooms and other amenities.
Building off the success of the Marillyn A. Hewson Data Analytics Lab and the Vulcan Value Partners Research Library and Trading Room — two learning and research spaces located in Bidgood Hall — Hewson Hall will include ample room for similar experiences where students will gain critical career skills while working on hands-on, real-world projects.
Innovatively designed, the building will offer flexible space that can easily be converted from a traditional lecture format to a more intimate area for group work and discussions. Planned specialty classrooms include boardroom-style learning environments with high-tech teaching walls for students to learn in spaces equivalent to the ones they will be working in as professionals. Ultimately, the overarching design philosophy is rooted in adaptability, ensuring that classroom environments can accommodate future demands.
“Over the years, the Hewson family has been interested in growing programs that support the University’s mission of teaching, research and service,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “The mark that they’ve made on our campus is immeasurable, and Hewson Hall will stand as a testament to their devotion to their alma mater.”
A visionary leader in the aeronautics industry, Marillyn A. Hewson, chairman, president and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corp., and her husband, James, have long demonstrated a commitment to The University of Alabama.
Announced in July, the Hewson’s $15 million gift supports the next stage of growth at the Culverhouse College of Business, which is where Marillyn earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s in economics. James is also a graduate of the University, having earned a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Last year the Hewsons also made a $5 million commitment to support the Marillyn Hewson Faculty Fellows Program in Data Analytics and Cyber Security, a high-tech Data Analytics and Cyber Security lab, and an endowed undergraduate scholarship and graduate assistantship in the college.
“Culverhouse is at a unique turning point in its history. As we prepare for our centennial in 2019, we reflect on where we are as an institution, while also looking forward to our next hundred years,” said Dr. Kay M. Palan, dean of UA’s Culverhouse College of Business. “Serving as a gate to the western edge of campus, Hewson Hall will help support our expected growth plans as it will provide the space needed to attract and teach the next generation of business leaders.”