UHD celebrates opening of Shea Street Building

President gives brief Report to the Community

(HOUSTON, Nov. 13, 2007) The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) celebrated the newest building for the university and the new home of the College of Business, Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 320 N. Main St.

The new four-story building at the corner of North Main and Shea streets is home of the UH-Downtown College of Business. It combines high-tech classrooms, computer labs and lecture halls in 132,000 square feet of space. With an adjoining multi-story parking garage on its three-acre site, the building features a glass-enclosed entrance that provides stunning views of UHD's One Main Building and the downtown skyline.

"Fortunately, we have seen student enrollment and our campus grow consistently over the past decade and a half," said UHD President Max Castillo. "We wanted our physical growth to keep pace with the technology and environment students need to succeed in the competitive global marketplace. With the addition of the Shea Street Building, I believe we will achieve that."  

Castillo also gave a brief report to the community.  

The architect of record is PGAL and the general contractor is Manhattan Construction Company. The project price tag was $36.6 million.

The UHD College of Business is internationally accredited by the AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) an honor achieved by only one-fourth of undergraduate business schools in the United States. It produced more than 800 graduates in the last academic year, earning BBAs in Finance, Accounting, Computer Information Systems, International Business, Management, Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and General Business.

"The college has reached a point where a new building will make a huge difference," said Donald L. Bates, dean of the College of Business. "In one sense, it will put the college on the map in Houston and make it more easily recognizable to the public.   In another, it will allow us to increase our engagement with the community and produce more graduates for real-world careers."

The College of Business houses the Institute for Financial Literacy, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Family-Owned Businesses, the Center for Supply Chain Management and the Institute for Business, Ethics, and Public Issues. Certificate courses are offered in Entrepreneurship and Professional Land Management.