The George Washington University Completes Expansion and Consolidation of its School of Business; Newly constructed Duques Hall and renovated Funger Hall designed by SmithGroup

Business Wire, Feb 8, 2006

WASHINGTON -- The George Washington University has completed a new home for its highly-ranked School of Business that brings all of the school's departments under the same roof and expands the school's facilities. The official dedication was held February 8, 2006.

SmithGroup, one of the nation's leading architecture, engineering, interiors and planning firms, had primary responsibility for building programming, architectural design, project management, MEP engineering, cost estimating, and construction administration. The completed School of Business is the result of the successful partnership among SmithGroup, The George Washington Facilities Project Management, and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, the project's construction manager.

"SmithGroup has succeeded in designing and building a beautiful facility that meets the technological and functional needs of today's business students," said Susan M. Phillips, Dean of the GW School of Business. "The GW School of Business is proud of its national rankings and certain the new complex will add to its rising reputation."

The 173,700 SF new construction of the Ric and Dawn Duques Hall links to the renovated Norma Lee and Morton Funger Hall unifying the School of Business into one facility. The clean, modern building is sympathetic to the older Funger Hall, but stands on its own as a new symbol for the GW School of Business. This combined facility consolidates both undergraduate and graduate programs and the school's seven departments into one facility on campus.

SmithGroup has a longstanding relationship with The George Washington University. The firm most recent designs include 1957 E Street (home of the Elliott School of International Affairs) and the Marvin Student Center. Other projects by SmithGroup underway or recently completed in the Washington, D.C., area include the Gallaudet University Sorenson Language and Communication Center, the Kim Engineering Building at the University of Maryland, and the Discovery Communications World Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD.

SmithGroup (www.smithgroup.com) is an 800-person, international architecture, engineering, interiors, planning and landscape architecture firm specializing in the learning, science and technology, health, workplace, and urban design and planning markets. In addition to its office in Washington, D.C. SmithGroup has offices in Ann Arbor, MI; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Los Angeles, CA; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Phoenix, AZ; and San Francisco, CA.