Lehigh Celebrates Opening of Business Innovation Building

Open space to encourage a sense of community, student study spaces, high-tech meeting rooms and classrooms were all designed to host student learning and faculty innovation for years to come, Phillips said. The classrooms, equipped with advanced camera and sound systems, are built to handle students on-site, remotely or a combination of both. Some classrooms feature movable, modular furniture, allowing students to regroup around each of four monitors in the room. Using their own devices, they can connect to the monitors and work as small independent teams.

A classroom in-the-round is unique with four LED arrays hanging above circular seating, giving everyone a chance to easily collaborate. It’s designed for the faculty member to be in the middle of the students, participating in the lesson, not necessarily leading it, according to Phillips. And the Center for Business Communication includes a one-touch video recording studio, a larger television studio, coaching rooms and mock interview rooms.

Helble, who was introduced by Kim Rogoff ’94, chair of the College of Business Dean’s Advisory Council and head of global financial planning and analysis for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., said the new building will advance Lehigh’s strategic initiatives and enhance the university’s experiential learning efforts.

“What makes this facility so special is that it was designed with collaboration in mind,” Price said. “It is a place where faculty and students can come together, exchange ideas and push each other to be more creative and innovative. This type of collaborative learning is essential for preparing students for life after Lehigh, where they will need to work across different fields and disciplines to solve complex problems.”

Vincent Forlenza, chair of the Board of Trustees, and Nathan Urban, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, also spoke. Forlenza reflected on his personal experiences and the challenges that businesses face and said Lehigh and the Business Innovation Building are about “creating leaders that can build the future.” Urban said the new building, in addition to greater flexibility for collaborating and gathering, provides enhanced opportunities for teaching, research and entrepreneurial activity.

The open house was held on the first floor in the building’s lobby, which has a granite floor, high ceilings and glass walls that allow floor-to-ceiling views of the outdoors as well as other rooms in the building. Dolce, a student acapella group, kicked off the festivities.

Part of the open house was dedicated to a new initiative honoring past and present Lehigh alumni who contribute to the business world, the Lehigh Business LUminaries.