Building the Future: Saunders College of Business Expansion

A rendering showing the southern exterior of Max Lowenthal Hall after the planned expansion.
 

Building the Future

Saunders College of Business Expansion

Opening Fall 2023

Welcome to the Next Generation of Business!

Students this fall will be the first to experience the latest state-of-the-art facilities, at the intersection of business and technology.

Infrastructure

for the Next Generation

of Business

Students in Saunders College of Business receive a unique education; one that integrates business with technology and design thinking. The expansion will drive creativity and innovation among the next generation of business leaders.

RIT is committed to supporting this forward-thinking educational approach with a facility that fosters student and faculty collaboration, accommodates new academic programs, and encourages community engagement.

Building progress of the Saunders expansion

This expansion will enhance learning by providing modern spaces that support collaboration, networking, applied research, and business community engagement.

 Time lapse video of the expansion

Gallery

A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing the food venue.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing a student lounge.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing the main lobby atrium.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing the main lobby featured area.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing the admin corridor.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing a collaboration space featuring a table with several chairs.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing a connection hall.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing a research lab reception area.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing a large event room set up for a banquet.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing a large event room set up for a presentation.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing a new classroom.
A rendering of the interior of the Saunders expansion, showing a corridor outside of a classroom.

The Saunders College of Business expansion will nearly double the building’s current footprint. Inspired by the latest technology and building features found in industry, with an additional 36,000 square feet, Saunders College will better incorporate essential elements of applied learning and collaboration.

Essential to the building extension, there will be a premier university event space that doubles as an experiential learning lab for business students. The location will also benefit the entire RIT community as thousands of visitors and students will attend conferences, workshops, celebrations, and several other events each year.

Originally designed by Robert Macon, Max Lowenthal Hall, was constructed in the late 1970s. The new design by LaBella Associates seeks to honor the architectural language of the existing building, while reinterpreting materials to present them in a more modern way.

Learn more about what to expect with the building expansion.

Special Features

Student team rooms and flexible spaces to drive student and faculty collaboration.

A state-of-the-art auditorium to support distinguished guest lectures and events that enable the rich engagement of students, faculty, alumni, and business and community leaders.

Applied research collaboratories to support research focused on addressing contemporary business challenges.

A premier, multi-functional event venue that will also serve as a learning laboratory for the hospitality-related programs.

A café with comfortable seating with snacks to refuel and study throughout the day and evening.

Existing classrooms will also be renovated in support of innovative and student-centered pedagogy.

Transformational Gifts

This project would not have been possible without Saunders College alumni and friends. Donors and awards collectively committed nearly $12 million toward the project.

  • E. Philip Saunders serial entrepreneur and philanthropist;
  • Chance Wright ’18 (advertising photography), ’19 (MBA);
  • Susan Holliday ’85 (MBA);
  • Klaus Gueldenpfennig ’74 MS (electrical engineering), ’77 (MBA);
  • Brigitte Gueldenpfennig ’81 (MBA);
  • Dinah Gueldenpfennig Weisberg ’97 MS (software development and management), ’03 (EMBA);
  • New York state’s Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program.
Dr. Munson, E. Philip Saunders, and several other VIPs breaking ground on the expansion to Max Lowenthal Hall.

Saunders College: Ground Breaking

Max Lowenthal Hall begins its transformation into incredible spaces where our RIT business students will thrive.

Track the progress of the expansion

Carmyn Gomez sitting at a table.

This expansion project will enhance interaction among students and faculty as there will be more available space for collaboration and teamwork. Additionally, the expansion will help to support our unique and growing business programs in management information systems, supply chain management, analytics, and entrepreneurship.

 

Carmyn A. Gomez

BS supply chain management and international business,
MBA industrial systems and engineering management