At the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the Olin Business School’s next major expansion on Washington University’s Danforth Campus, Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced a commitment of $3 million from Emerson Charitable Trust.
The groundbreaking was for two new buildings, Knight Hall and Bauer Hall, needed to address the growth of the school’s graduate business education programs. Emerson’s gift is designated for a 300-seat auditorium that will be located on the first floor of Knight Hall.
Knight and Bauer halls will be built on the current site of Eliot Hall and adjacent to the Charles F. Knight Executive Education Center. Dedicated in 2001, the Knight Center is home to the executive MBA program, recently ranked No. 2 worldwide by the Wall Street Journal.
Lead gifts totaling $25 million for the two facilities have come from philanthropists Charles and Joanne Knight, $15 million; and George and Carol Bauer, $10 million. The estimated cost for completion, in the spring of 2014, is $90 million.