In front of a packed crowd of students, staff, alumni and members of the Glassboro, New Jersey, community, Rowan University President Ali A. Houshmand officially opened the new headquarters of the the William G. Rohrer College of Business.
The new four-story $63.2 million Business Hall, opened January 18, rests on Route 322 and will be the official home to the “Rohrer College of Business, the Center for Professional Development and Hatch House, in addition to 14 classrooms, 10 ‘specialty’ rooms, seven conference rooms and 85 offices for faculty and administrators on upper floors,” according to The Courier Post.
The opening of the building is part of the university’s ongoing massive expansion efforts that have been in the works for several years. The following week, the university opens a $71 million expansion for the school’s home of engineering, totaling $134 million for the two projects. This, along with the school’s commitment to renovating its downtown campus, has made Rowan one of the more attractive collegiate options in South Jersey.
Rowan Business Hall North Side
And becoming that attractive an option will also hopefully mean expansive career opportunities. New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney was on hand at the event, in which he discussed the glaring differences between the northern and southern sides of the state.
“The reason southern New Jersey has a weaker economy than northern New Jersey is we don’t have the number of higher education degrees,” Sweeney said. “We’re expanding capacity for people to go to school in this region. We need a more educated work force to bring the jobs that we want here. This university is the future of our economic development in southern New Jersey. Rowan University is the linchpin—the key for economic development in the region and the state”
Rowan Board of Trustees Chairman Linda Rohrer, daughter of the late William G. Rohrer whom the business school was named after, was also in attendance for the opening.
“I just toured this building. I’m breathless and speechless,” she said. “This building stands as a gateway to our campus. And it stands as a gateway to our future.”
Head to the official Rowan University website for more information on the opening.